Ian McLeod will succeed Graham Allan as the group chief executive of Hong Kong-headquartered retail group Dairy Farm International.
After five years with the company, Allan will step down on 31 August, with McLeod to take on the new position from 18 September.
McLeod brings more than 30 years of international retail experience to Dairy Farm, having worked with Asda in the UK and Germany, as managing director of Australian retailer Coles, and most recently as chief executive of US supermarket chain Southeastern Grocers.
Dairy Farm chairman Ben Keswick said in a company statement released 23 June that McLeod brought “extensive strategic and operational retail experience with a strong track record of driving profitable growth”.
“We would like to welcome Ian to Dairy Farm, and to wish him every success in taking the group forward on its next stage of development.”
Keswick also thanked Allan for his contributions to the company, where he oversaw the retailer’s growth across Asia and mainland China.
“Under his leadership, Graham has pioneered change initiatives that have focused on meeting our customers’ needs and enhancing the capabilities of the group,” Keswick said.
The pan-Asian retailer operates more than 6,500 outlets, from supermarkets and hypermarkets to convenience stores and restaurants across 11 countries.
