Despite constant rumours, under-pressure supermarket CEOs Dalton Philips, Philip Clarke and Marc Bolland all survived to fight the good fight again in 2014 (or at least until the Christmas trading results are announced) but as tales of survival go, none has come up smelling of roses quite like Simon Litherland this year.
When AG Barr proposed an audacious ‘merger’ with Britvic, the Zimbabwean, newly installed as Britvic’s UK boss, looked certain to lose his job. But even before the Competition Commission approved the deal (in July), the former Diageo GB MD had nudged Britvic CEO Paul Moody aside, outlined bold new plans to reinvigorate the business - slashing costs, reshuffling the sales force, rethinking Britvic’s range - and had full board backing to resist the bid.
Read The Grocer’s Review of the Year 2013.
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