What: Tesco announces leadership changes with CCO Ashwin Prasad replacing Matthew Barnes as UK CEO, while creating new transformation role amid strategic initiatives including F&F relaunch.

Why it is important: The changes reflect the retail industry's broader shift toward integrating commercial expertise with transformation leadership to drive growth in a competitive market

Tesco has announced significant leadership changes with Chief Commercial Officer Ashwin Prasad succeeding Matthew Barnes as UK CEO, effective from 30 June. Barnes, who held the position since March 2024, is departing to pursue other opportunities. Prasad brings valuable experience from his executive team tenure since 2020 and previous roles at Mars and BOC. The restructuring includes the appointment of Natasha Adams, current CEO for Ireland and NI operations, to a newly created position as chief strategy and transformation officer. Geoff Byrne, currently chief operating officer in Ireland, will be promoted to Ireland & NI CEO. Group CEO Ken Murphy emphasized the company's strong market performance and strategic progress, noting that these changes leverage internal talent to maintain competitive momentum. The announcement coincides with Tesco's recent relaunch of F&F online, featuring over 2,200 products across multiple categories.

IADS Notes: Tesco's leadership transition reflects broader transformation trends in retail management. According to Drapers' October 2024 coverage , Tesco has demonstrated strong performance in clothing and home categories with 0.3% growth, while preparing for strategic initiatives like the F&F online relaunch. Retail Gazette's October 2024 analysis showed how major retailers are experiencing significant leadership changes as they adapt to evolving market conditions and pursue new growth opportunities. The appointment of former Tesco UK CEO Jason Tarry as John Lewis Partnership chair in April 2024 highlighted the industry's focus on returning to core retail operations and abandoning diversification strategies. El Confidencial's March 2025 report revealed how retailers like El Corte Inglés are creating transformation-focused roles and restructuring leadership teams to drive digital integration and operational efficiency. The elevation of Ashwin Prasad to Tesco UK CEO, combined with Natasha Adams' appointment as chief strategy and transformation officer, demonstrates how retailers are balancing operational expertise with transformation capabilities in their leadership teams.

Tesco CEO steps down after year in top role