Change On The Menu As Ocado Searches For New Chief

Ocado is searching for a successor to long-serving chief executive and co-founder Tim Steiner in a move that could mark the end of one of the most recognisable leadership eras in British grocery and retail technology.

Steiner, who co-founded Ocado in 2000, has led the business for more than 25 years, taking it from an online grocery start-up to a listed technology group best known for its automated warehouse systems and online fulfilment platforms.

According to the Financial Times, Ocado is actively looking at potential candidates to replace Steiner, with Niklas Heuveldop, chief executive of Ericsson-owned Vonage, reported to be among those considered for the role.

Ocado has not announced a formal leadership change. In response to reports about the succession process, the company said its chief executive and board “continually engage in long-term succession planning and regularly engage with potential candidates”.

The possible change at the top comes at a critical moment for Ocado. Once seen as one of Britain’s great technology success stories, the group has come under sustained pressure from investors after a sharp fall in its share price and concerns over the pace and profitability of its international technology business.

Ocado’s market value has fallen dramatically from its pandemic-era highs, when the surge in online grocery shopping fuelled expectations that its robotic fulfilment model could transform food retail around the world. The company has since faced setbacks, including reduced ambitions from major overseas partners and a more cautious market view of large-scale automated grocery fulfilment.

The business has continued to push its technology platform as the centre of its future growth strategy. In May, Asda announced a new partnership with Ocado to upgrade its online grocery operation from 2027, giving the retailer access to Ocado’s technology for its website, app, order management and fulfilment processes.

That deal was seen as an important boost for Ocado after a difficult period, particularly as the group seeks to prove that its technology can deliver value for major retailers beyond its own grocery operation.

Ocado is also the joint venture partner of Marks & Spencer in Ocado Retail, the online grocery business created after M&S bought a 50 per cent stake in 2019. The relationship has not been without tension, with the two companies previously in dispute over a final payment linked to the joint venture.

For the fresh produce sector, Ocado remains an important player in the wider shift towards digital grocery, data-led fulfilment and home delivery. Any leadership change would therefore be watched closely by suppliers and technology partners, particularly at a time when supermarkets are investing heavily in efficiency, availability and online customer experience.

While no appointment has been confirmed, the search for a potential successor suggests Ocado is preparing for the next phase of its evolution — one that will need to convince investors, retail partners and suppliers that its technology-led grocery model can still deliver long-term growth.