The Co-operative Federal Retail and Trading Services buying group has appointed David McKnight as MD.
McKnight started his career with Unichem, where he held a number of operational and buying roles across the wholesale and retail divisions, most recently as medical buying controller.
In 2002, he joined Tesco as category manager for healthcare, leading the buying for pharmacy. Over his 17 years at the supermarket he has been category director for grocery, impulse, health & beauty and household and petfood.
Most recently, McKnight was strategy and trading director at Tesco, leading commercial strategy across price, promotions and range, as well as the overall food trade and events plan.
“We are delighted to announce David’s appointment,” said John Coombs, chairman of Federal Retail and Trading Services. “He brings a vast wealth of understanding and experience of UK and international grocery retailing to a role which is pivotal in ensuring societies work co-operatively to maximise scale and value.
“Combining the day-to-day operations, governance and strategic direction is key to underpinning, and building on, the success and strong growth performance that has been enjoyed by all UK Co-op societies over the past five years.”
McKnight added: “Co-operation is key to this role, and something I believe is more relevant today than ever. I am really looking forward to working closely with the Co-op Group and all the independent retail Co-op societies.
“It is an exciting and unique opportunity that supports the success of the sector and the creation of value, and real co-operative differences in our communities.”
Federal Retail and Trading Services is jointly owned by the Co-op Group and the independent retail Co-op societies and serves more than 4,000 outlets across the UK.
The board is made up of the CEOs of the eight largest UK Co-op societies: Central England, Midcounties, Southern, East of England, Lincolnshire, Scotmid and the Channel Islands.
No comments yet