Name: Stuart Mitchell
Was: MD of Sainsbury’s and CEO of Wilkinson
Now: CEO designate of SIG
Years in grocery: 29

Career background: Mitchell has a seriously impressive CV. He joined Sainsbury’s as a graduate trainee in 1981, and went on to hold a variety of senior positions in procurement, primary agriculture, non-food, commercial and strategy. He joined the board in January 2002 and rose to MD of Sainsbury’s supermarkets in 2003 but left a year later following a management restructure shortly after the arrival of CEO Justin King. He moved to Taiwan to become MD of Superdrug owner AS Watson’s Health & beauty division but two years later he was back in the UK as CEO of variety discounter Wilkinson. He left Wilkinson in June after six years at the helm.

Where is he now? Last month, Mitchell was unveiled as the new CEO of building products company SIG. He joins today as CEO designate and becomes CEO in March next year when current CEO Chris Davies retires. On his appointment, SIG chairman Leslie Van de Walle said: “The board believes he has the right skills and experience to be a worthy successor to Chris and we are looking forward to working with him.”

Achievements: Wilkinson was transformed under Mitchell’s leadership. He added nearly 100 stores to its estate, introduced a grocery offer, rebranded stores and launched a transactional website complete with in-store ordering points and catalogues. He also brought in high-profile grocery figures to his management team, including former Asda non-food trading director Peter Pritchard (now at Pets at Home).

What next: Mitchell will be relishing a new challenge in a new sector at SIG. He may be out of grocery for now, but The Grocer expects him to return to his roots in the next few years.

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