Operating Board changes

RNS Number : 3742U

Sainsbury(J) PLC

14 May 2008

SAINSBURY'S ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO OPERATING BOARD

Sainsbury's is today announcing changes to the company's operating board with the addition of four new appointments to further strengthen the leadership team and to provide the appropriate structure to steer the company through its next period of development.

The changes will be effective from 15 June 2008 and take the operating board to 12 members. The new additions of Information Technology (IT) and Change, Commercial Services, Property and Strategy give greater representation for key areas of increasing significance as the business moves from recovery to growth. The operating board's new structure will involve the following changes:

Angela Morrison, currently director of information services, becomes IT and change director.
Neil Sachdev, currently commercial director becomes commercial services director.
John Rogers, currently director of group finance, becomes property director.
Luke Jensen, who joined Sainsbury's in mid-April 2008 to the newly created role of director of strategy will also join the operating board.

In addition Sainsbury's has strengthened its property team as the natural next step in its active property management. Since March 2007 Sainsbury's has undertaken around £2 billion of asset management activity, including two joint ventures (JVs). A new division has been created to dedicate resource to the ongoing management of the JVs and potential development opportunities to maximise value of its property assets. Peter Baguley, previously director of property, will take on the new role of managing director of this division reporting directly to Darren Shapland, chief financial officer.

Commenting on the changes, Justin King, Sainsbury's chief executive said: 'These changes further strengthen the operating board and will allow us to focus more effectively on the next stage of our development. I believe Sainsbury's has one of the strongest leadership teams in retailing in the UK and look forward to working more closely with Angela, Neil, John, Luke and Peter.'

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. The revised operating board will have 12 members.

Justin King - Group CEO (also on plc board)

Darren Shapland - Chief Financial Officer (also on plc board)

Mike Coupe - Trading Director (also on plc board)

Roger Burnley - Retail and Logistics Director

Imelda Walsh - HR Director

Gwyn Burr - Customer Director

Tim Fallowfield - Company Secretary

Dido Harding - Convenience Director

Luke Jensen - Strategy Director

Angela Morrison - IT and Change Director

John Rogers - Property Director

Neil Sachdev - Commercial Services Director

Reporting lines remain the same. Angela Morrison and John Rogers will report to Darren Shapland, Neil Sachdev will report to Mike Coupe and Luke Jensen reports to Justin King.

2. Angela Morrison career summary:

Joined Sainsbury's from Asda/Walmart in March 2005 as IT Director. At Asda/Walmart held a number of roles including 2001-2005: European Strategy Director; 1999-2001: IT Director; 1997-1999: Director of E-Commerce; 1996-1997: IT Strategy Manager.

3. Neil Sachdev career summary:

Joined Sainsbury's in March 2007 as commercial director following 28 years at Tesco where he worked in a range of different business areas including; January 2000-August 2006: Stores Board Director UK Property/Operations; September 1999-January 2000: Supply Chain Director; September 1998-September 1999:Director, Competition Commission; February 1998-September 1998: Support Director; October 1994-July 1998: Retail Director.

4. John Rogers career summary:

Joined Sainsbury's in March 2005 as Director of Corporate Finance March 2007 to present, Director of Group Finance. Prior to Sainsbury's John was Group Finance Director for Hanover Acceptances, a diversified corporation with wholly owned subsidiaries in the food manufacturing, real-estate and agri-business sectors. Previous roles include Senior Manager at Monitor Company and Manager at Arthur Andersen.

5. Luke Jensen career summary:

Luke joined Sainsbury's from the retail & consumer practice at the strategy consulting firm OC&C. In this role, he has advised the boards of many leading UK and International retail and FMCG companies and private equity groups. Previous roles include 2004-2008 OC&C UK, Director/Partner & Head of FMCG, Consumer & Retail Practice; 2002-2003 M8 Group, UK, Founder & Group FD/Executive Director; 2001-2002 NAO, UK, Joint Managing Director & Chairman; 1992-2000 OC&C UK, Director/Partner; 1988-1991 Banque Paribas, Manager, Acquisition Finance.

6. Peter Baguley career summary:

Peter joined Sainsbury's in 2005 as property director following nearly 15 years at Boots where he held a number of roles including Director of Investor Relations March 2000-mid 2005; Director of Group Projects (Reorganisation & Communication) Oct 1999-March 2000; Director of Property & Planning July 1998-October 1999; Managing Director Boots Properties June 1995-June 1998 and Director of Property Investment Boots Properties July 1990-May 1995.

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