The changes will combine the symbol group’s sales and retail teams from July, with Nisa’s sales director Steve Leach in charge of the newly formed team. The reshuffle also expands the remit of Nisa chief operating officer John McNeill who will be responsible for format and development, marketing, PR and Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally charity.

Co-op’s head of new channels, Martin Rogers, currently oversees Nisa-Co-op franchising operations, but will also be made responsible for ‘strategic planning.’ Nisa’s retail director Nigel Gray has decided to step down from his position and will be leaving the company after five years at the symbol group. 

Explaining the reshuffle, Nisa chief executive Ken Towle said: “We recently celebrated our first-year anniversary of being part of the Co-op family and reflected on our successes to date. However, there is more we can do to realise our strategic vision and this reorganisation will better align our management structure to Nisa’s growth strategy.”

He added: “For many years, Nigel has been a key part of our leadership team, commuting from his home in Northern Ireland to lead our field teams and partner engagement. Having successfully led the retail team through the first year of Co-op ownership, Nigel has now decided to leave the business and, while we are very sorry to see him go, we wholeheartedly wish him all the very best for the future. Meanwhile, I have every confidence that John, Steve and Martin have the necessary experience, expertise and drive to successfully build on Nisa’s recent success, and I look forward to working with them in their expanded roles.”