Co-op lines up chair appointment
The Co-operative group has chosen Debbie White as its next chair following Allan Leighton’s planned departure in February 2024 after nine years in the position.
White has held a number of executive roles, including group chief executive of construction company Interserve, and global CEO for healthcare and government at food service company Sodexo.
She has also recently held a number of non-executive roles such as senior independent director at Spire Healthcare Group, Howden’s Joinery Group, and medical technology company PAVmed.
The 61-year-old is a Cambridge graduate and qualified as both a chartered accountant and chartered tax practitioner.
White is expected to join The Co-op’s board as an independent non-executive director in August 2023, before taking on the position of chair next year.
Debbie White said: “The Co-op is the original business with purpose, with ambitious plans to grow further in the coming years and I’m excited by the prospect of being a part of a business which exists to meet the needs of its members.”
Shirine Khoury-Haq, Co-op group chief executive, said White is a “perfect fit” for the company, which operates over 2,500 food stores.