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IN WHAT SEEMED like a publicity stunt, Pick n Pay last week announced “a major structural change” to the executive management of the food retailer in a statement to the JSE. Group CEO Nick Badminton said the changes were required in order to streamline its operations, with a very firm focus on customer sovereignty, efficiency and area specialisation.
Accordingly, Pick n Pay Stores’ current Exco, retail management board and group enterprises board are replaced and being consolidated into a group executive that will be responsible for the marketing and sustainability, buying, operations, supply chain/IS, franchise, group enterprises, finance, human resources, transformation and customer portfolios.
“These changes form part of a wider programme to improve our business over the coming years and are a very key part of our overall strategy for the future,” said Badminton.
The changes in the management structure come barely a month after the group announced the appointment of Jonathan Ackerman – son of Pick n Pay founder and former chairman, Raymond Ackerman – to a newly created position of customer director. Jonathan Ackerman was replaced as marketing director by Bronwen Rohland.
Those in the know say bringing Rohland – who was at the forefront of the implementation of SAP and the construction of distribution centres – into the marketing department was partly aimed at jerking-up the company’s public image. That might have come amid internal realisation that public perceptions of Pick n Pay aren’t congruent with what actually happens in the company. One such perception is that Pick n Pay is relatively expensive compared to its peers – although that’s not necessarily the case. The group has also recently attracted negative publicity arising from its fractious relationship with labour union Saccawu about wages and alleged racism in the company, which could only have added pressure on Pick n Pay, whose results haven’t been convincing of late. An analyst (who asked for anonymity) says Jonathan Ackerman actually didn’t do a great a job as marketing director, other than leading Pick n Pay’s recent major facelift. Chairman Gareth Ackerman – elder son of retired founder and former chairman Raymond – says the restructuring in its top leadership is an important part of its total strategy, positioning Pick n Pay very well for the future.
Accordingly, Pick n Pay Stores’ current Exco, retail management board and group enterprises board are replaced and being consolidated into a group executive that will be responsible for the marketing and sustainability, buying, operations, supply chain/IS, franchise, group enterprises, finance, human resources, transformation and customer portfolios.
“These changes form part of a wider programme to improve our business over the coming years and are a very key part of our overall strategy for the future,” said Badminton.
The changes in the management structure come barely a month after the group announced the appointment of Jonathan Ackerman – son of Pick n Pay founder and former chairman, Raymond Ackerman – to a newly created position of customer director. Jonathan Ackerman was replaced as marketing director by Bronwen Rohland.
Those in the know say bringing Rohland – who was at the forefront of the implementation of SAP and the construction of distribution centres – into the marketing department was partly aimed at jerking-up the company’s public image. That might have come amid internal realisation that public perceptions of Pick n Pay aren’t congruent with what actually happens in the company. One such perception is that Pick n Pay is relatively expensive compared to its peers – although that’s not necessarily the case. The group has also recently attracted negative publicity arising from its fractious relationship with labour union Saccawu about wages and alleged racism in the company, which could only have added pressure on Pick n Pay, whose results haven’t been convincing of late. An analyst (who asked for anonymity) says Jonathan Ackerman actually didn’t do a great a job as marketing director, other than leading Pick n Pay’s recent major facelift. Chairman Gareth Ackerman – elder son of retired founder and former chairman Raymond – says the restructuring in its top leadership is an important part of its total strategy, positioning Pick n Pay very well for the future.
