Sainsbury’s has appointed former Tesco woman Dido Harding as convenience director, with effect from spring 2008.

She will also be a member of the company’s operating board.

Harding will take over from Lawrence Christensen, who has been leading the division since June 2006. He will continue to lead Sainsbury’s Convenience until Harding's induction period is completed.

Chief executive Justin King said: “Growing our presence in the convenience channel has been an important part of our Making Sainsbury’s Great Again plans.

“Dido’s combination of marketing, trading and operational experience means she is ideally qualified to lead the next stage of this development.”

Sainsbury’s operates 305 convenience stores, and recently acquired 15 stores from Kwik Save. The supermarket plans to grow convenience sales to £400 million by March 2008, and to open 100 new convenience stores by March 2010.

Meanwhile, King has indicated he is keen to retain his job if the grocery chain is taken over by the Qatari-backed Delta Two investment fund.

Quoted in The Guardian, he said: “I thoroughly enjoy this job and see myself in it for the long term, regardless of ownership.”

He added that he would find a way to maintain the high profile he and Sainsbury’s had built up on issues such as sustainability and obesity. “I have always said that one of the upsides [of public ownership] is it gives you opportunities on a formal basis to talk to the outside world. If we become a private company, we will have to find those opportunities.”

King, who joined Sainsbury’s in 2004, is held in high regard by Delta Two, who have made it clear they would like him to stay on if their £10.6 billion bid is successful. He has been banned from holding talks with Delta Two until the outcome of the potential bid is unknown.

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