Halfords’ chief executive, Matt Davies has been poached by Dave Lewis, to run Tesco’s UK and Ireland operations.
The boss of Halfords has said he is “genuinely gutted” to be leaving the car parts and bicycles retailer but the chance to join Tesco as the boss of its biggest division was an “opportunity that I couldn’t say no to”.
Dave Lewis poached Matt Davis to help drive a turnaround of Britain’s biggest retailer. Tesco has been suffering from falling sales in the UK for four years and Matt Davies, who led Pets at Home before joining Halfords, has a reputation for improving staff morale and customer service. Mr Davies will leave Halfords in May.
Matt Davies said, “I’m genuinely gutted to be leaving Halfords. I have loved working at the business for the past two and a bit years and it was absolutely not in my script to be leaving but when I was approached by Tesco and given the opportunity to run their business in the UK and Ireland and work with Tesco CEO, Dave Lewis and the team it was an opportunity I couldn’t say no to.”
