Tesco Ireland appoints new CEO

Read More: Tesco Ireland

Andrew Yaxley has been announced as the new CEO of Tesco Ireland. Yaxley (47) is currently the managing director of Tesco’s London business. Prior to that he held a number of positions in the commercial function as a member of the UK leadership team leading the Fresh and Packaged Food Divisions, and the Commercial business in Slovakia and Czech Republic.

He succeeds Phil J Clarke,  who has held the position of chief executive of Tesco Ireland for the past two years and will retire in April.

According to Dave Lewis, Group CEO, Clarke has had an exemplary career with Tesco.

“Phil joined Tesco as a 15 year old in 1974, became a store manager at 20, and rose to take on several of our most important international roles including CEO of our businesses in Slovakia and Czech Republic, Japan and more recently in Ireland. Over the last two years, despite challenging market circumstances, Phil has worked tirelessly to make Tesco Ireland a stronger business and I thank him for all his work. Phil will be succeeded by Andrew Yaxley, who has shown outstanding leadership and delivered an improved business performance in London over the last two years as Managing Director.”

On his retirement Clarke said: “I could not have asked for a better way to end what has been a long and rewarding career in Tesco than having the opportunity to spend two years as CEO in Ireland.  Having guided the company through a challenging time, the business is fundamentally stronger with clearer value offers, an improved fresh food offering and a really compelling community agenda. I believe that now is the right time to hand over responsibility and that Andrew is absolutely the right person to lead Tesco Ireland forward. I wish him the very best in his new role.”

Yaxley joined Tesco in 2001 having previously worked for Mars.  He is from Derbyshire.