Retail director at Morrisons to retire from group next year

MORRISONS' long standing group retail director Mark Gunter is to retire from the Bradford-based company next year.

Mr Gunter, who has been at Morrisons for the past 25 years, oversaw the integration of Safeway seven years ago.

He said he felt that now was the right time to announce his departure.

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"We have a strong team in place and I want some time to enjoy; it would be nice to have time to get bored," he said.

"I'm looking forward to being able to take more than two weeks' holiday at a time. A month would be a real luxury."

Mr Gunter, 52, has nothing lined up yet but said he will look for fresh challenges, possibly including some non-executive directorships.

"I live in Harrogate so I'd be keen to stay in Yorkshire," he said. "I'll also look at charity work, it doesn't have to necessarily be business."

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Mr Gunter will retire in June 2012. He will remain as group retail director until the AGM in June 2011, when he will step down from the main board.

From June onwards he will start a progressive handover of his responsibilities to Mark Harrison, currently stores director, to ensure an orderly succession. Throughout this handover period Mr Harrison will be group retail director (designate).

From June 2011 until his retirement a year later, Mr Gunter will continue to advise the board and other directors. After this Mr Harrison will take over as group retail director on the management board.

Morrisons' chairman Sir Ian Gibson said: "Mark has made an enormous contribution to Morrisons over 25 years, with the last eleven years at board level.

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"He has been one of the architects of our growth from a strong regional operator to a national business. Mark is a great retailer and a valued leader."

Morrisons' chief executive Dalton Philips said: "Mark Gunter has been a tremendous asset to Morrisons for many years always leading as a retailer.

"I am pleased that Morrisons has developed many excellent retailers and that Mark Harrison has the skills and experience to step up to the key role of group retail director."

Mr Gunter added: "I have had a fantastic career at Morrisons working with some great people. I am proud of what the company has achieved and have a tremendous sense of satisfaction with our success.

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"The business is in good shape with a strong management team in place and I feel now is the right time to step back."

Mr Gunter joined Morrisons in 1986 as a store general manager. In 1993 he was appointed regional director and subsequently stores director in 1999.

He was appointed to the board in January 2000 as group store operations director.

Prior to joining Morrisons, he gained wide experience in UK food retailing, which included working at Iceland, Fine Fare, Tesco, Argyll Foods and Asda.