The Co-operative Group Executive
The Group Chief Executive, Euan Sutherland, is appointed by the Group Board and has direct responsibility for the Group on a day to day basis. He is accountable to the Group Board for the financial and operational performance of the Group.
It is the responsibility of the executive to implement the strategic objectives as agreed by the Group Board. The executive, under the leadership of the Group Chief Executive, is responsible for the management of the Group.
In August, 2012, Peter Marks announced his intention to retire as Group Chief Executive of the Group in May 2013. Following an extensive search using external recruitment advisers, and a robust selection process, the Board announced that Euan Sutherland would succeed Peter in this role in May 2013. Euan is currently the Group Chief Operating Officer of Kingfisher plc and is currently a Non-Executive Director on the Co-operative Food Board.
Our Management Executive
Euan Sutherland
Group Chief Executive
Before joining The Co-operative Group in May 2013, Euan’s previous roles include non-executive Director on The Co-operative Food Board, Group Chief Operating Officer for Kingfisher plc, Chairman of B&Q and CEO of Kingfisher UK & Ireland. Euan has over 18 years’ experience within the retail sector having held roles with Boots, Dixons, Coca-Cola and Mars.
Martyn Wates
Chief Executive, Specialist Businesses and Deputy Group Chief Executive
Has held a number of senior roles within the Co-operative Movement over the past 16 years including Chief Financial Officer of The Co-operative Group and prior to that Chief Financial Officer of United Co-operatives where latterly he also had responsibility for the Funeral Division. A qualified chartered accountant and Director of various internal subsidiaries and Non-Executive Director of The Co-operative Bank plc, Co-operative Insurance Society Limited and CIS General Insurance Limited.
Rod Bulmer
Acting Chief Executive, Banking Group
Joined the Group in 2007, during which time he has held of number of senior executive roles within the Banking Group, most notably within its retail banking operation. Prior to joining The Co-operative Group he headed up UK Retail Distribution for Santander.
Steve Murrells
Chief Executive, Food
Joined as Chief Executive of The Co-operative Food in 2012. Previously CEO of Danish meat company, Tulip. Has a long history in fresh food retailing, having held a number of senior positions with Tesco, including CEO for One Stop Stores and Commercial Director of Fresh Foods. Has also worked within buying and trading for Sainsbury’s.
Gill Barr
Group Marketing Director
Joined the Group Executive in January 2011. Previous positions include Marketing Director of John Lewis, and Business Development Director at Woolworth, as well as a range of senior positions within Kingfisher, KPMG and Freemans. Gill is also a Non-Executive Director of Morgan Sindall plc.
Mark Craig
Director of Corporate Affairs
Has spent his whole working life within the Co-operative Movement, having started with Co-operative Retail Services in 1982, before moving to Oxford & Swindon Co-operative Society and then United Norwest Co-operatives. Represents The Co-operative Group on the Board of the British Retail Consortium and the Prince’s Trust Retail Leadership Group.
Andy Haywood
Chief Information Officer
Joined The Group Executive in January 2012. Has held a wide range of senior IT leadership roles across several industries. Most notably as Chief Information Officer of Boots, Chief Information Officer of HBoS Retail Bank and Chief Information Officer of ASDA.
Martyn Hulme
Managing Director Co-operative Estates
Has worked for The Co-operative Group for over 20 years joining the Group Executive in 2010. Qualified accountant and MBA, has held a variety of senior management positions within Finance, Strategy and Change, playing a leading role in many of the recent transformational changes within the Group. Director of various internal subsidiaries.
Steve Humes
Group Chief Financial Officer
Joined The Co-operative Group in 2000, ten years as Director of Finance for the Food business and Group CFO since the beginning of 2011. A qualified chartered accountant with extensive food retail and manufacturing experience prior to joining the Group.
Rebecca Skitt
Group HR Director
Joined The Co-operative Group in 2013. Has 20 years UK and international experience in HR, encompassing both the fast moving consumer goods sector with Unilever plc and in financial services with Barclays.
Moira Lees
Group Secretary
Heads the Group’s Secretariat, covering the Governance, Membership and Legal functions. Also Secretary of Co-operative Banking Group. Has been with the Group since 1981. Has held a number of positions in the Co-operative Movement. Currently Chair of The Co-operative Academy of Manchester.
The Co-operative Food Executive
Reporting to Steve Murrells:
- Sean Toal, Chief Operating Officer
- Steve Bailey, Finance Director
- David Roberts, Property Director
- Debs Gleeson, HR Director
- Mike Osmond, Commercial Director
- Cheryl Marshall, Service Delivery Director
- Mark Hale, Supply Chain Director
- Howard Reed, Food CIO
Specialist Executive
Reporting to Martyn Wates:
- Mike Austin, Managing Director - Specialist Commercial Businesses
- Steve Round, Chief Operating Officer - Legal Services
- John Nuttall, Managing Director - Pharmacy
- George Tinning, Managing Director - Funerals
The Co-operative Banking Group Executive
Reporting to Rod Bulmer:
- John Hughes, Managing Director, Retail Bank
- Mark Summerfield, Managing Director, Life & Savings and General Insurance
- Helen Taylor, HR Director
- Grahame McGirr, Interim Chief Risk Officer
- Keith Alderson, Managing Director, Corporate and Business Banking
- John Baines, Interim Chief Financial Officer
- Bruce Hope-MacLellan, Chief Operating Officer