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BusinessQuiet 8d · day 9

Asda hires ex-Morrisons boss David Potts as CEO

The struggling UK supermarket chain appoints experienced turnaround veteran to replace Allan Leighton as it battles fierce competition and falling sales.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 8d ago16 pieces NewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • David Potts, 69, who led Morrisons through a successful turnaround before its 2021 private equity buyout, replaces Allan Leighton as Asda's CEO, with Leighton stepping back to a strategic non-executive role.
  • Asda, the UK's third-largest supermarket, has been struggling with declining sales despite aggressive price cuts, IT system failures, and intensifying competition from discount retailers like Aldi, which is close to overtaking it.
  • Potts has committed to weekly shopping improvements and keeping prices low during the crucial Christmas trading period as part of the next phase of Asda's turnaround strategy.
  • Leighton led a stabilisation of Asda after returning in 2024 and said the company is roughly one-third of the way through its transformation, but the business posted a £989 million pre-tax loss in 2025.

“Over the last two years, we have stabilised the business and returned it to some growth and begun to establish Asda as 'more than a supermarket' through our Formula for Growth strategy.”

Allan Leighton, Non-executive chairman · Guardian Business ↗

David Potts New group CEO of AsdaAllan LeightonAllan Leighton Former CEO, now non-executive chairmanAsda UK's third-largest supermarket chain

Asda hires ex-Morrisons boss David Potts as CEO
Guardian Business

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 12 pieces in two hours at Nov 3, 2 AM; 16 pieces over 9 days (16 articles) Nov 3, 2 AM — 12 pieces · 12 articles — Google News 8, Newswires 4Nov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Google News 1Nov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Nov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietNov 7, 12 AM — quietNov 7, 2 AM — quietNov 7, 4 AM — quietNov 7, 6 AM — quietNov 7, 8 AM — quietNov 7, 10 AM — quietNov 7, 12 PM — quietNov 7, 2 PM — quietNov 7, 4 PM — quietNov 7, 6 PM — quietNov 7, 8 PM — quietNov 7, 10 PM — quietNov 8, 12 AM — quietNov 8, 2 AM — quietNov 8, 4 AM — quietNov 8, 6 AM — quietNov 8, 8 AM — quietNov 8, 10 AM — quietNov 8, 12 PM — quietNov 8, 2 PM — quietNov 8, 4 PM — quietNov 8, 6 PM — quietNov 8, 8 PM — quietNov 8, 10 PM — quietNov 9, 12 AM — quietNov 9, 2 AM — quietNov 9, 4 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 8 AM — quietNov 9, 10 AM — quietNov 9, 12 PM — quietNov 9, 2 PM — quietNov 9, 4 PM — quietNov 9, 6 PM — quietNov 9, 8 PM — quietNov 9, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quietToday, 2 PM — quietToday, 4 PM — quietToday, 6 PM — quietToday, 8 PM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 2

    Potts outlines focus on weekly shopping improvements and Christmas pricing

    Potts stated that while Asda has made progress, significant opportunities remain. He emphasised improvements to the shopping experience and keeping prices low during Christmas, with a focus on delivering value customers can 'feel in their pockets'.

    “By making improvements to the shopping trip every week, which customers can experience and feel in their pockets, we will revitalise the business.”
    — David Potts
    1. 4 outlets UK supermarket Asda names former Morrisons boss David Potts as CEO

      first by Reuters, 8d ago · also Bloomberg, Evening Standard, Investing.com News

      3 more headlines
  2. 1

    Asda appoints David Potts as group CEO

    Asda announced that David Potts, the 69-year-old former CEO of Morrisons, will take over as chief executive with immediate effect. Allan Leighton, who has led the company since 2024, transitions to non-executive chairman focusing on long-term strategy.

    “David has an outstanding record in our industry, his experience is exactly what we now require for the next stage of our transformation and beyond.”
    — Allan Leighton

    1. 3 outlets first by Asda, 8d ago · also The Times, Financial Times · read ↗

    2. 2 outlets Asda appoints former Morrisons boss as chief executive as sales struggle

      first by Guardian, 8d ago · also The Guardian

    1 more claim →

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Asda hires ex-Morrisons boss in bid to grow firm

    first by BBC Business, 8d ago · also This is Money, BBC

    1 more headline

and 1 smaller piece