Morrisons names Tesco veteran Higginson as chair

Struggling supermarket Morrisons today named former Tesco director Andy Higginson as its new chairman.

Higginson, who has stepped down as chairman of recently-listed discount chain Poundland, will take the helm of the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket when current chair Sir Ian Gibson retires next year.

Morrisons, which saw its like-for-like sales slide by 7.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to 4 May, has struggled in the face of tough competition from cut-price rivals Aldi and Lidl.

Higginson said: “Whilst there are undoubted challenges in the industry at the moment, this is a fine business and I am looking forward to working with the great team at Morrisons who work hard every day to serve customers.”

Poundland, which floated in May, said retail industry veteran Darren Shapland – the former boss of Carpetright – has been appointed as chairman with immediate effect.