Central England Co-operative has unveiled Debbie Robinson as its new chief executive following the announcement that Martyn Cheatle will retire in May 2019.
Robinson joins from Spar, where she has been UK managing director since 2011, and has over over 30 years of retail experience with the Co-op, Marks & Spencer and WHSmith, among others. She also sits on the boards of the Association of Convenience Stores and the British Retail Consortium.
In her new role Robinson will be responsible for developing the strategic and commercial direction of the Central England Co-operative, which is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK, employing over 8,000 people. The society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services and property investment, with over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties.
Elaine Dean, society president, said: “Central England Co-operative is delighted to welcome Debbie Robinson at a time of growth and development for our society.
“Debbie is no stranger to co-operative ethics and values, having previous experience at a senior level within the co-operative movement. She has a sound track record of success and is highly respected in the retail sector.
“This is the first time in the society’s history that we have had a female chief executive and the board is confident in her ability to take us forward as a dynamic and independent co-operative society. We look forward to working with Debbie as we build on our strong foundations and plan for the future.”
Robinson added: “I am delighted to be joining a progressive and truly co-operative society. I look forward to building on the fantastic work Martyn has done and working with the team to ensure Central England Co-operative fulfils its ambitions and potential, making a real difference for our members and the communities we serve.
“My vision for the future of Central England Co-operative is to grow sustainably and make the most of the Society’s key USP - our co-operative principles.”
