Asda Replaces Chief Customer Officer

Former P&G and Walmart exec Andy Murray is to join the latter's UK subsidiary Asda next week as its Chief Customer Officer, taking a seat on the executive board and replacing Barry Williams who is leaving the company.

At Walmart, Murray (pictured) is SVP of Creative and Customer Experience. Earlier in his career he also worked client side at Hallmark, and founded shopper marketing agency Saatchi & Saatchi X.

Asda has recently announced a programme called Project Renewal, serving as a blueprint for the future of the business and said by CEO Andy Clarke to be based on 'Keeping ahead of what our customers want by recognising when their needs change and adapting how we do things'.

Quoted on www.marketingmagazine.co.uk , Clarke said of the new arrival: '[Murray's] deep understanding of global retail trends, creative marketing and customers' shopping habits will bring a new dimension to our strategy to overhaul our offer, merchandising and value proposition and transform of our stores, starting with the largest 95 stores'.

Clarke said Williams, who spent eight years at the company, had done a 'fantastic job' focusing its marketing and customer strategy. Williams' next move is not known at this time.

Web site: www.asda.co.uk .