The Issa brothers will take direct charge of Asda’s day-to-day operations after the abrupt departure of its chief executive.
Roger Burnley, 55, will step down on Monday, the supermarket revealed yesterday, several months earlier than previously announced and without a successor in place.
Mohsin Issa, 50, and his brother Zuber, 49, will now ‘work closely’ with Asda’s existing executive team until they are appoint Burnley’s replacement.
Signing off: Roger Burnley will step down on Monday, the supermarket revealed, several months earlier than previously announced and without a successor in place
The announcement was widely seen as a sign the brothers were seeking to clear out the old guard.
The company added that it would soon also be announcing ‘some additional appointments’.
Marks & Spencer food boss Stuart Machin is seen as a prime candidate to take over as chief executive, although the company said the hunt is ‘ongoing’.
The Issas formally took the reins of the business on June 16 after the UK competition watchdog cleared the £6.8billion takeover.
Sources had pointed to a tepid relationship between Burnley and the Issas.
‘The chemistry was not amazing from day one,’ an insider said.