Morrisons’ commercial director for non-food Mike Snell is leaving after three years with the Bradford-based retailer.

Snell was leaving to take up a new opportunity in private equity, said Morrisons, but did not say exactly where he was going.

Responsibility for non-food is to be handed to Lisa Maio, Morrisons commercial director for grocery, as part of a shake-up of its buying department.

The move will see the creation of a new team looking after grocery, BWS, home and leisure, household and Health & beauty, to be headed by Maio, who will continue to report to group commercial director Richard Hodgson.

This is the second rejig of the retailer’s buying department this year. In April, Morrisons was forced into a reshuffle of its buying functions after corporate marketing and operations director Richard Lancaster unexpectedly quit to become trading director at single-price discounter Poundland.

Lancaster was replaced by Nick Collard, who was then commercial director for ambient grocery. Collard’s role was given to Maio, who was in charge of chilled foods at the time.

Maio is a keen supporter of Morrisons’ drive to have more women represented in the top levels of the company.

She scooped the Specsavers Everywoman Retail Leader of the Year award in 2011 and has represented Morrisons at a Women in Business meeting in Downing Street. She also mentors a number of up-and-coming women within the business.

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