Morrisons has promoted Gordon Mowat to become its new group property and strategy director.
Previously convenience MD at Morrisons, Mowat oversaw the aggressive expansion of Morrisons 130 M local c-stores from scratch, including the acquisition of 49 former Blockbuster stores in 2013.
It is a process Mowat will continue to focus on in his new role as the supermarket seeks to add 100 new c-stores-a-year.The retailer revealed last week that it would fall short of that target this year after it pulled out of a potential deal to buy a package of stores due to concerns over likely returns.
“He will be focused on continuing to expand our convenience business, filling in the gaps in our supermarket footprint and optimising the cashflow from our property assets,” said Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips.
This will include cutting capital expenditure on new supermarkets and realising £1bn from property disposals by 2016. Mowat will also join the management board and his role will include developing the supermarket’s business strategy.
He joined Morrisons in 2011 from McKinsey & Company where he was a partner in the consultancy’s European consumer goods and retail practice.
Mowat succeeds group property director Terry Hartwell who resigned in September after five years in the role.
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