People Moves

Noel Robbins leaves Tesco COO post

Noel Robbins has been moved from his role as Tesco’s UK chief operating officer and will now work directly for group chief executive Philip Clarke on unspecified projects. 

Robbins will still sit on the group’s executive committee and will be replaced by Chris Bush, a Tesco veteran of 29 years and current boss of the company’s operations in Thailand.

The move comes three weeks after Robbins sold shares in Tesco worth over $300,000 ahead of a profit warning that caused the company’s value to reduce by $7.9bn.

"As we move closer to the new financial year, I have reflected on the changing needs of the business and I have asked Bob Robbins to change his executive committee accountabilities," says Clarke.

Sources inside the retailer told The Guardian that the changes had no connection to the sale of shares and that the move was not a demotion. 

David Hing, London