Former DS Smith Group Finance Director joins Co-op Board

Former DS Smith Group Finance Director joins Co-op Board

(IN BRIEF) The Co-operative Group Limited has announced that Adrian Marsh will join the company as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee. Marsh is retiring from his role as Group Finance Director at FTSE 100 packaging company, DS Smith, after 10 years in the role. He is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of John Wood plc and previously held senior finance positions at Tesco and AstraZeneca. Marsh will succeed Simon Burke, who has been a member of the Co-op Board since inception in its current form in November 2014. Burke has chaired the Risk and Audit Committee since June 2015 and will step down at the end of April.

(PRESS RELEASE) MANCHESTER, 14-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Co-operative Group Limited, Co-op, a British consumer co-operative with a group of retail businesses including food retail and wholesale, insurance, legal services, and funerals, has announced that Adrian Marsh will be joining their Board as the new Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee. Adrian brings a wealth of executive and non-executive experience from his previous roles, having served as Group Finance Director at FTSE 100 packaging company DS Smith for 10 years. He is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of John Wood plc and has held senior finance positions at Tesco and AstraZeneca.

Co-op is delighted to welcome Adrian, especially at a time when the Board is undergoing significant changes, with the search for a new Chair and Senior Independent Director in progress, as the terms of office of both Allan Leighton and Chris Kelly are coming to an end in the next 12 months.

Adrian will succeed Simon Burke, who has been a member of the Co-op Board since its inception in November 2014. Simon has chaired the Risk and Audit Committee since June 2015 and has made a significant contribution to the development of the Co-op during his nine years of service.

Allan Leighton, Co-op Chair commented “Simon has made a significant contribution to the development of our Co-op over the past 9 years, especially in helping us to strengthen our risk and audit framework. He leaves us with our sincerest thanks and appreciation.

“Adrian joins our Co-op at an exciting time as we move forwards in developing our Food and Life Services business areas. His depth and breadth of commercial experience will prove highly valuable as we seek to create sustainable value for the benefit of our members and their communities.”

Allan Leighton, Co-op Chair, expressed his appreciation for Simon’s dedication and contribution to the Co-op’s growth and stated that Simon will oversee the preparation and audit of the 2022 annual report and accounts, which are due to be published in April 2023. Simon will step down at the end of April, and Adrian will formally join the Co-op Board on May 1.

Ends

Further information:

Russ Brady – Co-op
Tel: 07880 784442

Notes to editors:

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates over 2,500 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 5,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited.

Employing almost 60,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11billion and is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.

SOURCE: Co-operative Group Limited