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Asda Appoints Former Morrisons Boss David Potts as Chief Executive
Asda appoints former Morrisons boss David Potts as chief executive with immediate effect
Key points
- Potts, 69, began his career on the shop floor at Tesco aged 16.
- Asda's sales fell 0.5% in the three months to 4 October, according to Worldpanel by Numerator.
- Allan Leighton, 73, has run Asda since 2024 and moves to a non-executive role.
Why it matters. The appointment comes as Asda and Morrisons face heavy competition and high levels of debt, and Aldi is poised to overtake Asda as the third-largest UK supermarket.
Asda has appointed David Potts, 69, as chief executive with immediate effect as it struggles to lift sales. Potts started at Tesco aged 16 and led Morrisons from 2015 to 2023, while executive chair Allan Leighton, 73, steps back to a non-executive role. Asda's sales fell 0.5% in the three months to 4 October, and Aldi is poised to overtake it as the UK's third-largest supermarket.
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Asda Appoints Former Morrisons Boss David Potts as Chief Executive
Asda has appointed David Potts, a former boss of rival supermarket Morrisons, as its chief executive. He takes over immediately. The appointment comes as the British supermarket chain continues to struggle with weak sales. Allan Leighton, who had been serving as executive chair, is stepping back into a non-executive strategic role. The change marks a shift in how Asda's leadership is structured at the top. Further details on the company's strategy under Potts have not yet been outlined.