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Former Marks & Spencer co-CEO Katie Bickerstaffe is joining the Sainsbury’s board as a non-executive director.
Since leaving M&S last year to pursue board roles, Bickerstaffe has taken up non-executive positions at UK fund manager Aberdeen and The Royal Marsden cancer hospitals.
Bickerstaffe was M&S’s co-CEO for two years alongside Stuart Machin, running the business’s digital, data, and technology operations. She was the first female boss in M&S’s history.
She is also a non-executive on the England & Wales Cricket Board and the housebuilder Barratt Developments. She was previously CEO of Dixons Carphone’s UK and Ireland business.
She will be joined on the Sainsbury’s board by Steve Hare, CEO of software company Sage.
Sainsbury’s chair Martin Scicluna said the pair’s experience in retail and digital businesses will be “invaluable”.
“Katie’s strong perspectives on digital transformation and Steve’s expertise in leading tech businesses will greatly contribute to our strategic direction. We look forward to their insights and contributions as we continue to drive Sainsbury’s forward.”
Bickerstaffe and Hare will join the supermarket after its annual general meeting on 3 July. Both will sit on the nomination and governance committee, while Hare will also join the audit committee and Bickerstaffe the corporate responsibility and sustainability committee.
Their appointment is subject to shareholder approval at the AGM.
Morning update
English sparkling winemaker Chapel Down has said it expects to return to profit this year, following a strong start to trading in 2025.
The Kent-based supplier said it was “currently trading well ahead of prior year” and expected “strong sales growth for the year, with a return to full profitability”.
Full story here.
Moonpig said its annual profits will come in “stronger than expected” this year although its revenue projections have fallen behind market expectations.
In a trading update, the online card retailer said its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation will be at the “top end” of its 25% to 27% guidance range, with “double-digit” percentage growth in earnings per share.
However, it anticipates full-year revenue to sit between £350m and £353m for the year to 30 April 2025, with growth slowing to 4% in the second half of the year, down from 6% in the first. This means it would miss consensus sales expectations by around 1%.
“We are pleased that Moonpig Group continues to deliver strong profitability and high free cashflow generation, driven by the power of the Moonpig brand,” said CEO Nickyl Raithatha.
“Our strong performance reflects our unique customer proposition and sustained investments in technology and data.”
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