Co-op Announces Changes to its Leadership Team

Co-operative Group Limited

2 September 2025

Co-op Announces Changes to Its Leadership Team as It Moves Forwards into the Next Phase of Its Growth Ambition

Jerome Saint-Marc

Jerome joined our Co-op in November 2023 as Managing Director for Growth, a remit which was extended to also include Business to Business (B2B). Having now embedded the B2B agenda, Jerome has decided that it is the right time to pursue further opportunities outside of our Co-op.

During his time with us, Jerome has firmly established our B2B capabilities across Co-op Wholesale and Franchise, whilst also overseeing our relationship with the Independent Co-op Societies through Federal Retail Trading Services (FRTS). He has led our Corporate Development team and provided the strategic focus for us to pursue further growth opportunities across our 3 business areas (Food, Life Services & B2B). In addition to his core responsibilities Jerome has been a hugely respected member of our Co-op's Operating Board throughout this period. His contribution to our Co-op has been highly significant, he has set us up for our future growth ambition and we wish him well for the future. 

As a result of Jerome's decision, Katie Secretan, MD for Co-op Wholesale, will report directly into our CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq and will join our Co-op's Operating Board. 

Wais Shaifta

We are delighted to now announce that Wais Shaifta has agreed to join our leadership team and Operating Board as our new Chief Growth Officer with responsibility for our Co-op Group Strategy and the delivery of our future growth agenda. Wais joined our Group Board in February as an Independent Non-Executive Director and is stepping down from the Group Board to take up his new leadership role, with a search for his replacement on our Co-op Group Board now underway.

Wais' remit will also include the following key functions, essential in driving forwards our Co-op's ambitious future growth agenda:-

- Our Strategy team

- Our Corporate Development team

- Our B2B Business Development team

- Our Insight team

- New Ventures

Wais brings with him a wealth of experience, which has seen him lead and also scale businesses across a number of consumer sectors and we are delighted to welcome him to our Operating Board.

Matt Hood

As we continue to shape the future of our Co-op, we have reflected on one of our most distinctive strengths, and one which represents a powerful platform to drive significant future growth - that of our role as a supplier to other businesses. More than half of the stores we serve today, over 5,000 in total, belong to external partners, be that as a Franchise store, an Independent Co-op Society or a Co-op Wholesale partner. Expanding this expertise is central to our ambition of building new revenue streams into existing and new markets, to drive forward the places where our Co-op difference can be seen.

We are therefore delighted to announce that Matt Hood will lead a new Group Commercial and Logistics division within Co-op as our Chief Commercial and Logistics Officer and continuing his role on our Operating Board. 

Matt will move from his current role of Co-op Food Managing Director and his extensive experience, expertise and commercial ability will deliver this new division for our Co-op. The Group Commercial and Logistics division will be a cornerstone of our strategy; growing and realising revenue and profitability across multiple channels and creating opportunities with new partners and customers, in order to maximise scale and deliver real value to all parties.

The new division will include expertise and buying power for both Goods for resale and Goods not for resale, servicing all Co-op stores, franchise, Independent Societies and Nisa, and creates a significant grocery buying group, which will be combined with our extensive logistics and supply operation.

Matt will start the new role with immediate effect, and a search is now underway to recruit a new MD for our Food Retail business. In the Interim period the remaining Food leadership team will report directly into our Group CEO, Shirine Khoury-Haq.

Ends

Media Enquiries

Co-op:

Russ Brady, 07880 784442, [email protected] 

CDR Consultancy:

Angharad Couch, 07507 643 004, [email protected]