As 2024 comes to an end, Grocery Gazette takes a look at some of the biggest appointments and exits that took place over the year.

Waitrose owner the John Lewis Partnership appointed former Tesco UK chief executive Jason Tarry as its seventh chairman in September.

Tarry has 33 years’ experience at Tesco and held the role of UK and Ireland CEO for the past six years, working across areas including grocery, general merchandise and fashion in senior commercial, operational and general management positions.

In his new role, Tarry will be tasked with leading the Partnership as it moves into “the next phase of its modernisation”, focusing on the core retail business and future growth.

Former Aldi UK and Ireland CEO Matthew Barnes took over the role as Tesco UK CEO in March, following the departure of Jason Tarry.

He has extensive experience in global food retail, having spent 27 years at Aldi, including in leadership positions in Australia and the Republic of Ireland.

During his time at the discount grocer, Barnes also took on the role of co-head of Aldi Sud’s executive board, where he was responsible for many of the supermarket’s international businesses and its global sourcing, buying and supply chain.

In November, Asda’s former CEO Allan Leighton was appointed as its incoming executive chairman, succeeding Lord Stuart Rose. The appointment signals the grocer’s ongoing efforts to deliver a turnaround plan and halt its decline in sales.

Leighton served as the grocer’s CEO from 1996 to 2001 and was chair of the Co-op for almost 10 years. At Asda, he is known for helping to turn around the business in the late 1990s alongside current M&S chair Archie Norman, and overseeing its sale to former majority owner Walmart.

Leighton said his initial priority would be to “restore Asda’s DNA”, including making improvements to price and availability, and hiring a new CEO.

In May, former Co-op boss Euan Sutherland was appointed Irn-Bru maker A.G. Barr’s new CEO.

Sutherland took over the role from Roger White, who announced he would step down in August 2023 after 21 years at the helm.

Sutherland spen a year at convenience retailer Co-op as chief executive from 2013 to 2014 and has also held top positions at companies including Kingfisher, Superdry and Saga.

Little Moons appointed Joanna Allen as its new chief executive in June to lead the mochi ice cream brand’s next “phase of growth”.

Prior to joining Little Moons, Allen was CEO of snack brand Graze for four years until May.

She also previously worked at Coca-Cola, holding various roles including global brand director, before moving to Unilever where she became global brand vice president of Hellmann’s followed by Sure deodorant until June 2020.

Earlier this month, Chapel Down appointed a new chief executive, poaching The Lakes Distillery CEO James Pennefather to lead the company.

Due to start in February 2025, Pennefather’s appointment comes as a replacement for former CEO Andrew Carter, who was poached in September this year for a new role as CEO of brewery Timothy Taylor.

Pennefather’s appointment follows 25 years of experience in the premium drinks industry, including his most recent role as Lakes Distillery CEO, where he led its acquisition to The Nyetimber Group earlier this year. He has also held senior leadership positions at William Grant & Sons and Diageo across the UK, Middle East, Africa and India.

Wookey previously held the role of chief commercial officer and has had a 35-year career in the food industry, including 20 years at supermarket sandwich supplier Greencore, holding a variety of senior commercial and managing director positions. He initially joined Samworth Brothers as a board director in January 2024.

John West named Mark Doherty as its new managing director in March to lead the tuna giant in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and across export markets.

Doherty had worked for the tinned fish brand for the past 15 years before the appointment and spent the last six years as commercial director.

He previously held positions at manufacturer Northern Foods, as well as food and drink conglomerate Nestlé.

In September, Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa said he would officially be stepping back from his executive leadership role at the grocer to focus on his previously announced position as sole CEO of EG Group.

However, Issa will remain co-owner of Asda and non-executive on the board.

At the time, former chair Lord Stuart Rose said: “We are very grateful to Mohsin for the role he has played in overseeing Asda, including launching into the growth market of convenience stores and introducing a loyalty app now used by more than six million customers.

“He has laid the foundations to deliver a world-class IT infrastructure, strengthening Asda for the long term. I look forward to continuing to benefit from his insight as a non-executive director on our board.”

In March, M&S co-chief executive Katie Bickerstaffe announced that she would be stepping down from her role at the upmarket retailer after two years in the post.

Bickerstaffe joined M&S  in 2018 as a non-executive director before moving into an executive role in 2020.

She officially left the retail giant after its annual general meeting in July, handing over the role solely to joint CEO Stuart Machin.

It came as Bickerstaffe looked to focus on a board career, joining DIY retailer Kingfisher as a non-executive director.

In August, Nestlé chief executive Mark Schneider stepped down after eight years with the FMCG giant.

During his time at the Aero and KitKat owner, Schneider shaped the company’s portfolio in line with its strategy, focusing on high-growth categories such as coffee, pet care and nutritional health products.

The board of directors appointed executive vice president and CEO of the businesses Latin America zone Laurent Freixe as its new chief executive.

In June, premium drinks company C&C Group’s chief executive Patrick McMahon resigned “with immediate effect” over the revelation of a series of financial errors.

It was unveiled that the Magners owner had financial shortcomings that span across multiple years and involve significant adjustments to the group’s financial statements.

This includes a total underlying operating profit adjustment of £4.3m and an exceptional charge of £10.2m, attributed to “onerous apple contracts”.

McMahon, who acted as chief financial officer at the time of the accounting irregularities, told the board that he would step down as CEO and director immediately.

In October, Quorn Foods chief executive Marco Bertacca stepped down after five years at the plant-based brand.

His departure came after parent company Marlow Foods posted a £63m loss the month prior and its lowest sales since 2017, as it experienced weaker demand for vegan products.

Bertacca was replaced by former Heineken UK managing director David Flochel who promised a “reset” of the company next year.

In September, Lipton Teas & Infusions chief executive Nathalie Roos stepped down after two years leading the tea giant.

Roos joined the business in July 2022, having previously held a number of roles at Mars and L’Oréal.

At the time, Lipton said that its chair Pierre Laubies would take over the role of CEO until a replacement for Roos was found, who cited personal reasons for her departure.