Graham Biggart, currently Business Unit Director of Fresh Food and Food Service at Sainsbury’s, has been promoted tothe newly created role of Chief Transformation Officer and will join Sainsbury’s Operating Board in March 2022. This move will accelerate Sainsbury’s customer transformation, in addition to its plan to save money and invest in innovation, quality and price and put food firmly back at the heart of Sainsbury’s. Graham joined Sainsbury’s in 2015 as Head of Range and Space and worked as Director of Commercial Operations, including running the Sainsbury’s Local and Argos Republic of Ireland businesses, before heading up Fresh Food and Food Service. Graham will be responsible for all key transformation programmes across Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat and Tu in addition to supply chain and logistics.
The changes to supply chain and logistics follow on from Sandy Parsonage’s decision to pursue a new portfolio of external roles. Over the last 3 years Supply Chain and Logistics has been at the heart of our business transformation and Sandy has played a huge role in leading the integration of our Sainsburys and Argos Logistics operations to make us fit for a digital and more efficient future. She has also had one of the most demanding roles in our business over the last 18 months given the major supply chain impacts caused by the pandemic.
Richard Crampton will return to Sainsbury’s in March to replace Graham as Business Unit Director of Fresh Food and Food Service, reporting to Rhian Bartlett, Food Commercial Director. Richard worked at Sainsbury’s for almost eight years until 2015, as a food Category Manager and CEO of Sainsbury’s Mobile. Richard has been Chief Commercial Officer on the PLC board at McColl’s for two years, delivering the Morrison’s supply and format partnership. Before that he was Managing Director, Buying Group at Co-op for almost four years.
In further changes to the Food Commercial team, at the end of the month Rachel Clark, Director of Customer & Change will become Business Unit Director of Grocery reporting to Rhian Bartlett. In her seven years with the business, Rachel has worked as a Category Manager, Head of Strategy and Director of Merger & Integration. Her strong background in commercial and strategic planning and significant experience in change management and delivery will be invaluable in her new role.
Rachel replaces Sam Burston, who will become Director of CRM and Loyalty for the Nectar business, reporting to Mark Given, Chief Marketing Officer. Sam has worked for Sainsbury’s for 13 years and has extensive experience across the company as a Range Planner and a Buying and Category Manager.
Commenting on the appointments, Simon Roberts said: “Graham Biggart is a talented retail leader with a proven track record and he thoroughly deserves this promotion. The new role of Chief Transformation Officer is a perfect fit for his skills and he will be a great asset to our business on the Operating Board.
“Sandy Parsonage has been at the centre of our business transformation and has worked tirelessly to deliver outstanding service for our customers. She has led the transformation of our Sainsbury’s and Argos logistics operations in order to make them fit for a digital and more efficient future. On behalf of everyone at Sainsbury’s I would like to thank her for dedication and wish her all the very best for the future.
“I am delighted to welcome Richard Crampton back to Sainsbury’s – he understands our business and we will benefit enormously from his broad industry experience.
“We are all delighted to see Rachel Clark progress and to have her in the key Business Unit Director, Grocery role. I’d like to thank Sam Burston for his leadership of the Grocery division during the past two years and I am confident he will do a brilliant job leading our Nectar business, a key brand that delivers.”
“These changes will set us up brilliantly to deliver the next phase of our transformation programme. We have a clear financial and customer plan which, supported by our great people, will ensure we continue to deliver for our customers, colleagues and shareholders.”
Graham Biggart said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Sainsbury’s Operating Board at this time. We have real momentum across Sainsbury’s, Argos, Habitat, Tu and the Bank and have a brilliant opportunity to transform our strategy and operations to ensure we are fit for the future and continue to deliver for our customers.”
