Poundstretcher has boosted its leadership team with a string of senior appointments, including poaching Miles Foster from Morrisons’ as its new group operations director.
Foster has spent 35 years at Morrisons, including as operations director for the central region and convenience, working with such industry titans as the late Ken Morrison, the supermarket’s long-time chairman, and David Potts, its former CEO.
At Poundstretcher, he will lead over 300 stores, overseeing their growth plan and reporting to CEO Andy Atkinson.
Poundstretcher has also strengthened its trading team by appointing Tony Fearon as its group commercial director. Fearon has also moved from Morrisons, where he was category director for health, beauty, baby, home & leisure until July. He has also worked in senior buying roles at Boots.
Foster’s team will include Poundstretcher’s new head of retail operations Liz Harris, another former Morrisons employee. Harris spent 16 years at Morrisons, including as its supply team leader, before founding Harris Business Consulting in 2023.
She is joined by new Poundstretcher retail operations manager Annette Beecham, a former regional manager at Home Bargains and B&M, and by Mandy Fitzpatrick, who will run Poundstretcher’s loss prevention team, following a similar role at Poundland.
Fearon is joined by Kyle Storey from Poundland as Poundstretcher’s new head of trading for fmcg, and Connor Black from Morrisons as head of trading for pet.
Read more: Can Fortress unlock the potential within Poundstretcher?
Poundstretcher has also welcomed new area managers – Tim Dearing, Simon Smith and James MacTavish – bringing experience from B&M, One Beyond, Morrisons and Asda.
“As we start this long and important journey, I am delighted that such a talented group of leaders have chosen to take the next step in their careers with us,” said CEO Atkinson.
“These people are the best in the industry, and share our values in supporting our colleagues, and putting customers first. These are exciting times ahead for Poundstretcher.”
Atkinson is himself a former Morrisons group commercial director. He was appointed Poundstretcher CEO in April as US investment firm Fortress acquired the retailer from Aziz Tayub, who had controlled it since 2008.
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