Asda’s chief operating officer Judith McKenna has overhauled the retailer’s management team to get its senior executives to work “better together” to drive growth.

McKenna, who took up her role in September following the surprise departure of Simon King, said the new structure would allow more effective career progression and also better reflect the company’s role as a multi-format operator.

As part of the changes, former operations director Glenn Bowles becomes MD of Asda’s supermarkets division and its Living format. He takes over Living from Roger McLaughlan, who has left Asda to become UK MD for Toys ‘R’ Us.

McKenna also revealed a wider role for retail operations director Mark Ibbotson, who becomes central retail director.

Operations director Craig Bonnar will move to become operations director for Scotland & Northern Ireland, with new regional directors set to follow.

Martin Dawson, meanwhile, becomes operations director for England and Wales, having previously headed Asda’s southern division. Dawson will also oversee three newly appointed regional directors - Tim Sparrow (South), John Irwin (Central) and Helen Milford (North).

“We have colleagues with an amazing depth of experience, capability and passion for our business,” McKenna said.

“I want to ensure that this senior team work better together - not only driving performance in their own areas, but also by working together to drive trading and operational synergies across all geographies and formats, in particular in the area of talent development.”

Both Ibbotson and Bowles, Asda’s most experienced retail operator, had been tipped as possible candidates for the COO job given to McKenna last year.

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