Online retailer Ocado has given its share price a jolt by appointing ex-Marks & Spencer chief Sir Stuart Rose as its chairman.

Rose will take up the role of chairman “designate” from 11 March and is expected to be officially installed at Ocado’s annual general meeting in May. He replaces Lord Grade, who will retire.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The retailer’s share price jumped by almost 7% following the news this morning (22 January).

However, Rose may need to use all of his vast experience, which includes time as CEO and executive chairman of Marks & Spencer, in order to instil confidence in Ocado’s long-term business prospects. The retailer faces growing competition from the UK’s biggest grocers moving online, and is reliant on Waitrose for its food supply.

“I have been very impressed at the impact and progress Ocado has made to date,” said Rose. “As retail goes through a fundamental shift into the digital world, I believe Ocado’s model and the high standards of customer service it provides will see it emerge as a powerful online player.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact