Terry Hartwell has resigned as group property director of Morrisons after more than five years at the supermarket chain.
Hartwell will leave the group in January. Confirmation of his successor, likely to be an internal candidate, is expected soon.
Hartwell joined Morrisons in May 2009 and was responsible for the growth and management of its UK property estate covering its stores, logistics and manufacturing sites. He had specific accountability for site acquisitions, construction, refits, maintenance, estate and asset management.
Prior to Morrisons, Hartwell worked at retail group Kingfisher from 1981 through to 2009. He left the business as group property director.
Hartwell’s departure comes as Morrisons faces tough competition from rival supermarket chains. Morrisons will open just 12 full-line supermarkets this year – down from the 18 it opened last year. It is limiting the expansion of new supermarket space to around 350,000 sq ft annually from 2014-15, which is slightly less than half of the average rate of growth over the past five years.
The group is instead focusing efforts on moving business online and expanding its M Local convenience stores to boost its accessible market by as much as 40%.
The chain has also been trying to raise £500m through a sale-and-leaseback of part of its £9bn estate.
Hartwell said: “This was a difficult decision for me but by the time I leave I will have been with Morrisons for nearly six years and I feel now is the right time to seek a new challenge.”
Dalton Philips, chief executive of Morrisons, added: “Terry has made an enormous contribution to the growth of Morrisons over the past five years. He has developed a strong property pipeline and modernised our property function. He leaves with our gratitude and best wishes for the next phase of his career.”
annabel.dixon@estatesgazette.com
