The Board of The Co-operative Group has appointed Allan Leighton as the Society’s first independent non-executive chair under the reformed governance structure.

As chair, Allan will work with the Board, the Council of members and the executive team to continue the vital work of rebuilding The Co-operative Group. He will assume his new role with immediate effect, taking over from Ursula Lidbetter who has chaired the Group since November 2013.

His appointment follows that of Sir Christopher Kelly as senior independent director of the Group Board in November last year. Allan will now lead the work to complete the establishment of the new Board, composed of a majority of independent directors and designed to ensure greater professionalism and stronger oversight.

The appointment of the four remaining independent non-executive directors is expected ahead of the Group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May this year. Further elected directors will join the Board following the AGM. 

Allan has held a series of high profile roles, including chief executive of Asda, non-executive chairman of Royal Mail and president of Loblaw, the largest food retailer in Canada. Current roles include chief executive of Pandora A/S, the jewellery manufacturer and retailer, from which he is due to step down on 1 March this year.