Asda’s number two steps down after just six months
Asda’s chief operating officer Simon King has unexpectedly left Britain’s second largest grocer just six months after joining the Wal-Mart owned group. The retailer says the appointment had “not worked out” and it had been decided “by mutual consent” that King should leave his role.
King joined Asda in January following a stint as chief executive of supermarket operator Panda Retail in Saudi Arabia. Previously he was chief executive of Tesco Kipa in Turkey, having also worked with Tesco in South Korea and Eastern Europe. He was responsible for all retail and supply chain operations, including distribution and customer services.
A replacement is expected to be announced before the end of June.