The Board of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC announces that effective from 13th March 2008, Sir Ken Morrison will retire as Chairman and Director of the company. Sir Ian Gibson, currently Deputy Chairman, will succeed him, as non-executive Chairman.
Sir Ian said: “Sir Ken is the outstanding example of a truly great retailer. His
achievements in scale and length of service are remarkable. It is a privilege to take the role of Chairman.”
Sir Ken has accepted the position of Honorary President. In this ambassadorial role, he will continue the strong relationship with employees, communities and shoppers which has characterised his long and distinguished career.
The full text of a tribute to Sir Ken from the Board of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is presented below:
“We are proud to pay tribute to Sir Ken Morrison on his retirement from the Company after 55 years of inspirational and dedicated leadership. During this time he has transformed Morrisons from a small, family business into the UK’s fourth largest food retailer and a top five food manufacturer, with 375 stores and 117,000 colleagues, serving over nine million customers a week.
An intuitive retailer, Sir Ken’s passion and flair were evident from his early years, when during school holidays he could always be found working in the family’s market stalls and small shops. This hands-on approach has characterised his career, throughout which he has never been happier than when out on the shop floor, taking a personal interest in ensuring customers’ needs are met. Sir Ken has always had customers as his focus; not as a business technique, but as a lifelong part of his character, forming his view of what Morrisons should be.
Through bold and innovative leadership Sir Ken has created and built the business, from establishing the first out of town self-service supermarket in Bradford, through to expansion nationwide with the acquisition and integration of Safeway, which involved the biggest store conversion programme in UK retail history. He has given Morrisons a leading edge with creative in-store features like ‘Market Street’ and a uniquely vertically integrated structure, together with a competitive offer renowned for always delivering great value for money. Sir Ken’s determination to avoid cost and waste throughout his
career has underpinned the commitment to that goal.
Sir Ken has won the loyalty and admiration of employees throughout the business with his down-to-earth nature and belief in team work; and his pride in the achievements of those around him has never been more apparent than in his desire to attend each and every one of the Company’s 25-year service celebrations. Suppliers also hold Sir Ken in high regard and having always shown great empathy, he has nurtured many mutually beneficial, long-standing relationships that have seen both businesses grow together.
Under Sir Ken’s stewardship, Morrisons has received wide recognition from the business world, winning many awards. His personal contribution has also been deservedly recognised on many occasions. Having received a number of industry accolades, he was awarded the CBE in 1990 and honoured with a Knighthood in 2000 for his services to retailing.
Sir Ken is a consummate retailer and his achievements are remarkable. His
wholehearted devotion and strength of purpose over five decades have taken Morrisons from modest beginnings, to national household name. A creator and builder with great passion and flair, his contribution to retailing has been invaluable and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for his life’s work. We are privileged to have known and worked with Sir Ken and those following in his footsteps will cherish his legacy of success.
We wish Sir Ken a well-earned and long and happy retirement.”