Online grocery retailer, Ocado Group has named John Martin as the new CEO of its tech arm, Ocado Solutions. The company said in a statement that the current Non-executive Director at the firm will be appointed to the position on 1 September 2023, allowing time for a thorough handover from outgoing CEO Luke Jensen before he retires at the end of that month.
Jensen was appointed as CEO in 2017 and became a member of the Board a year later. During that time there have been some notable highlights including signing the first international partnership with Bon Preu in 2017 and the most recent agreement with Lotte in Korea.
Ocado Solutions is now partnered with twelve of the world’ biggest food retailers whose online businesses are powered by the group’s technologies.
Tim Steiner, Chief Executive Officer of Ocado, said: “Over the last six years, Luke has played a key role in our transformation into a global technology solutions business. He leaves our Solutions business in a strong position to drive future growth, having recently established a global regional structure, with the appointments of regional presidents and the creation of a global Partner Success organisation. We wish him well and thank him for his contribution to Ocado. Luke will be supporting the transition over the coming months.”
Upon appointment, the new CEO will cease to be a member of the Board and will step down as Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the People Committee, the company said. Most recently, Martin was CFO of Vertical Aerospace and among others, has held positions as Chair and interim CEO of Countryside Properties plc, as well as CEO of Ferguson plc.
Rick Haythornthwaite, Chairman of Ocado, added: “John has extensive strategic, operational and financial management experience of running large international businesses. The Board believes he is the right successor to Luke with the required credentials to build on a strong foundation.”
Image from Ocado
