Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe to retire after six years

Sainsbury’s has announced the retirement of Mike Coupe after six years as CEO and has named Simon Roberts as his successor.

Coupe has worked for Sainsbury’s for 15 years and will leave his role as CEO at the end of May 2020. He will remain a director until the AGM on 2 July 2020 to support the transition and handover.

Chairman of Sainsbury’s Martin Scicluna said: “Mike has been bold and ambitious on behalf of our shareholders, customers and our colleagues. Investing heavily in convenience, online and our digital capability, selling Sainsbury’s pharmacy business and acquiring Argos and Nectar have all been sound strategic moves. These set us up well as we come together to create one multi brand, multi-channel business for our customers.”

Coupe added: “Sainsbury’s is a very different business today to the one I took over in 2014. I have focused on setting the business up to deal with the strategic challenges of our industry. I am proud that almost 20% of our total sales now come from our online channels and that we are becoming one multi brand, multi-channel business, able to continue to evolve and adapt with customers’ ever-changing needs.

“Adding Argos and Nectar to the business improves our ability to make shopping increasingly convenient for customers and to reward them for their loyalty. We have also been focused on investing in value so that customers feel confident they are getting quality food at great prices when they shop with us.”

The supermarket chain has agreed to appoint retail and operations director Simon Roberts as Coupe’s successor, after a thorough search process. Roberts will start his new position as CEO from 1 June 2020.

Roberts joined Sainsbury’s as retail and operations director in July 2017 and has since took responsibility for Argos’ retail operations as part if its continued integration.

“Simon has been extremely effective during his three years at Sainsbury’s, leading our store teams through great change in that time,” said Scicluna.

Previously, Roberts worked at M&S for 15 years and Boots for 13 years. He served as executive vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance and president of Boots UK.

Roberts said: “As we come together, I am feeling hugely energised by what we can do for our customers and our colleagues. I firmly believe in our ability to create value for our shareholders as we continue to evolve and adapt this great business for the future.”