MOVERS AND SHAKERS
27 JUNE 2025 ASIAN TRADER 13
Gurms Athwal joins Unitas
as Trading Director
Keeping up with the latest industry
moves and promotions
Movers and Shakers
Tesco has announced that
Matthew Barnes has stepped
down as UK CEO to pursue other
opportunities, and will be
replaced by Ashwin Prasad, Tesco
Group’s current Chief
Commercial Officer,
effective from 30 June.
Prasad is currently
Tesco’s Chief Com
mercial Officer with
responsibility for the
Group’s product and
customer strategy. He has been a
member of Tesco’s Executive
team since 2020 and brings a
wealth of retail and commercial
experience to this role.
He recently led the business
through supply chain disrup
tions and drove Tesco’s trading
strategy and accelerating its
digital marketing transition.
Tesco Group CEO Ken
Murphy said, “Ashwin is an
exceptional leader with a strong
track record for delivering for
our customers. His experience
leading our product and
customer strategy
makes him the ideal
person to take over as
UK CEO.
Prasad said, “I pick
up the reins of a
business with strong
momentum, a winning strategy
and a talented team. I am
privileged to be appointed UK
CEO and my priority will be to
continue offering our customers
an unbeatable experience, every
time they shop with Tesco. I
would also like to thank
Matthew for his support and
wish him well for the future.”
Tesco appoints Ashwin
Prasad as next CEO
Wholesale veteran Gurms
Athwal has this month joined
Unitas Wholesale as Trading
Director.
With over 25 years’ experi
ence in the sector, Athwal is one
of the industry’s most respected
figures. His career spans several
Unitas member
businesses, including JK
Foods, Hyperama, and
most recently Parfetts,
where he served as
Trading Director for the
past four years.
His longstanding
association with Unitas
and in-depth understanding of
its strategy and operations place
him ideally for this latest role.
“We’re delighted to welcome
Gurms to the Unitas Central
team. His wealth of experience,
strategic thinking, and proven
ability to deliver commercial
value will be a tremendous asset
to our members,” said Unitas
Managing Director John
Kinney.
“Gurms has a strong track
record of negotiating commer
cial terms and promotional
programmes that deliver
tangible results for both
wholesalers and suppliers.
“Until recently he
was a Non-Executive
Director on the Unitas
Board and his transition
to Executive Director
ensures continuity and
strengthens our
commitment to driving
growth through deeper
supplier engagement.”
Athwal said, “Unitas’ scale
and reach across retail,
foodservice and the on-trade
offer a unique platform for
collaboration. I’m looking
forward to building on the
excellent work already
underway and driving further
value for our members.”
Nigel Railton confirmed as
permanent Chair of Post Office
The government has confirmed
the reappointment of Nigel Rail
ton as Chair of Post Office Limited
following a year in post as interim
chair.
In the official announcement,
Department for Business
and Trade stated that
since being appointed
in May 2024, Nigel
Railton has provided
stable and considered
leadership as the Post
Office seeks to right the
wrongs of the Horizon IT
scandal and works to transform
vital services for millions of cus
tomers.
This includes announcing
his vision to deliver a New Deal
for Postmasters, which aims to
increase overall annual postmaster
remuneration by £250 million,
give a greater role to postmasters
in the day-to-day operations of the
business and provide an enhanced
package of support from Post Of
fice such as training and systems
support.
To recognise the ongoing
transformation and the
importance of stable
leadership at the Post
Office, ministers have
appointed Railton on
a permanent basis with
his contract set to run
until May 2028.
On confirming the appoint
ment, Post Office Minister Gareth
Thomas said, “Nigel Railton has
been a steady hand guiding Post
Office over the last year, providing
a clear direction for the future of
the organisation and certainty to
postmasters.
Taranjit Singh Dhillon
named MADL trustee
Co-op Wholesale’s Head of
Retail, Taranjit Singh Dhillon,
has been appointed as a trustee of
the organisation’s charity initia
tive, Making a Difference Locally
(MADL).
Taranjit joined Co-op
Wholesale as Head of Retail in
September 2024, following his
tenure at One Stop. His dedica
tion to community engagement
has been evident throughout his
career, most recently through his
support in bringing Nisa symbol
store retailers and the local com
munity together to serve hot
meals to vulnerable individuals
in Warrington.
This initiative embodied
the Sikh tradition of Langar – a
practice centred around equality,
humility, and service to others.
MADL was established to help
independent retailers support
local causes.
By raising funds through
the sale of selected products in
partner stores, it enables retailers
to make donations to commu
nity organisations, charities, and
other lgood causes in their local
areas.
Since its inception, the charity
has donated millions of pounds to
thousands of deserving initia
tives across the UK.
“I am truly honoured to join
Making a Difference Locally as a
trustee,” said Taranjit.