Nick Meagher to join Co-op as head of insight and research

Former Tesco head of insight Nick Meagher is joining the data, digital and loyalty team at Co-op as head of insight and research.

He will start the newly created role in September to drive the group’s membership ambitions, taking on insight and research leadership for The Co-op’s food, insurance, funeralcare, legal, community and membership functions.

He will report directly to Co-op’s director of data, digital and loyalty Charlotte Lock.

The appointment follows the relaunch of the Co-op’s membership offering and launch of its digital membership app in 2020 to 4.3 million members.

The Co-op said the greater use of digital insight means it can tailor offers, engagements and benefits for members, while doubling funds being given to community groups.

To date, more than one million Co-op members have downloaded the app, while two million members have selected a local cause to support through their membership.

Meagher’s appointment to the Co-op follows a career in global insight leadership roles with both Unilever and Mondelez International. He most latterly held the position of head of insight at Tesco, where he worked across the brand’s marketing communications, loyalty proposition and foresight.

“Nick is a first-class insight and research leader and his focus on purpose aligns with our Co-operative values and vision of co-operating for a fairer world,” said Lock.

“Thanks to his loyalty club experiences, Nick will play an instrumental part in helping us to supercharge our membership commitments, as well as make meaningful differences to the lives of our members and communities.”

Meagher said: “For me, joining the Co-op is a great opportunity to be part of what must be one of the original, and certainly most enduring, purpose-led businesses, founded long before the term was even coined.

“As an insights expert, the way the group spans across both significant and everyday moments in customers’ lives gives us a really precious resource in connecting datasets to drive strong customer understanding and empathy.”