Struggling Asda hires former Morrisons boss David Potts as chief executive, months after Allan Leighton backed an internal hire
Asda has posted its first sales growth in several years, even as David Potts takes charge to accelerate the struggling grocer's turnaround.David Potts CBE, who led Morrisons from 2015 until its 2023 private equity takeover, has joined Asda with Allan Leighton stepping back to non-executive group chairman.
David Potts CBE takes over at Asda with immediate effect, reversing Allan Leighton's stated preference for an internal appointment made as recently as August. Potts spent 40 years at Tesco, rising from the shop floor at 16 to run its Irish, UK and Asian operations, before leading Morrisons from 2015 to 2023. Leighton steps back to non-executive group chairman, two years after returning to steady a supermarket battered by falling sales and shrinking market share.
Potts turned around Morrisons during a private equity buyout by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, earning a CBE for services to retail employment.
Asda employs 116,296 workers and has only recently returned to modest sales growth under pressure from Aldi and Lidl.
Potts says his Christmas priority is keeping 'Asda prices locked low' — promising improvements shoppers can 'feel in their pockets'.
