Asda appoints David Potts as chief executive

Asda has appointed former Morrisons chief executive David Potts to lead the supermarket group, with the role taking effect immediately. Allan Leighton, who had been executive chairman since November 2024, will become non-executive chairman, the company said on November 3, 2026. The leadership change comes as Asda works to recover sales and market share after years of decline. Potts will take over day-to-day leadership, while Leighton remains in the business in a non-executive role. Asda has not disclosed further details about the division of responsibilities between them. Potts led Morrisons for eight years until 2023. Before that, he held senior roles at Tesco, including leadership of its Irish, UK and Asian businesses. His appointment brings a retailer with experience at two major British supermarket groups into the top job at Asda. Asda said it had returned to underlying sales growth in its third quarter for the first time in more than two years. The company attributed the improvement to sharper pricing, better product availability and an improved shopping experience. It also emphasized a focus on keeping prices low for customers during the Christmas period. The company’s...