Tesco has announced the appointment of Matthew Barnes as its new Chief Executive for Tesco UK, with the role set to commence on 1 March 2024.
Barnes will be taking over from Jason Tarry, who will be departing from Tesco in March 2024. Tarry's tenure at Tesco spans over 33 years, of which he served six years as the Chief Executive of the UK business.
During his leadership, Tarry played a pivotal role in navigating Tesco through its turnaround phase and the challenges posed by the pandemic, re-establishing the company's competitive stance in the UK and refocusing on customer-centricity.
Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, lauded Tarry's significant contributions, stating that under Tarry's guidance, Tesco has become more competitive than ever, with a strong emphasis on serving customers and colleagues. Murphy also highlighted Tarry's commitment to fostering a supportive and diverse work culture.
Matthew Barnes brings with him a wealth of experience from his time at Aldi, where he held several senior roles. Notably, he served as the Chief Executive of Aldi UK & Ireland and later ascended to co-head Aldi Süd’s executive board. In this capacity, Barnes oversaw many of Aldi's international operations and its global sourcing, buying, and supply chain division. Murphy expressed confidence in Barnes's appointment, citing his extensive retail experience and innovative mindset as assets that will further Tesco's growth in the UK market.
In related news, Tesco recently reported a 7.8% rise in like-for-like sales for the first half of its financial year, surpassing expectations in terms of volume and sales mix.