Ocado Group has lined up ex-Microsoft executive Adam Warby as a contender to serve as its new chairman.
Warby, who currently chairs the board of private equity firm KKR, stands as the leading candidate to take over from the online grocer’s current chair Rick Haythornthwaite, Sky News reported.
City insiders said a confirmation of the role could be made as early as November.
The executive also currently serves as chair of software firm SoftwareONE, and previously held various positions at Microsoft and IBM.
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In April, Ocado said Haythornthwaite would step down from the board next year due to his “increasing commitment” at NatWest Group.
The executive said he would not seek re-election at the grocery tech firm’s annual general meeting in April 2025 and asked the board to initiate the process of appointing his successor.
Speaking at the time, Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner said: “Needless to say, we will be disappointed to lose Rick but we fully understand the reasons why he is stepping down as chair to focus on his new role at NatWest.
“Rick has done a great job strengthening corporate governance, providing the executive team with wise advice and, together with a renewed and refocused board, helping us grow the business over the last three years.”
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