Jo Whitfield

Joanne Louise Whitfield CBE (born 21 December 1968[1]) was the Chief Executive of Matalan from 2023 to 2024.

Early life

She was born in St Helens, then in Lancashire.

She took A-levels (including English Literature and Politics) at Widnes Sixth Form College (now Riverside College, Halton).[2]

She attended Aston University from 1987 to 1991, studying Management.

Career

Overview of new Co-op headquarters (One Angel Square) at N.O.M.A., Manchester

Northern Foods

She worked for Northern Foods from 1995 to 2000.

Matalan

She worked for Matalan from 2002 to 2008.

She re-joined Matalan as Chief Executive Officer from March 2023 until October 2024.[3]

Asda

She joined Asda in July 2008.

Co-op

She joined the Co-op in April 2016 as Finance Director for Co-op Food and Retail. She became Chief Executive of Co-op Food in March 2017, making her the first female CEO of a British food retailer.[4][5] In 2019, she received the Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year award for her work on improving the stores' sales and sustainable practices.[6]

Whitfield was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to retail and the food supply chain during the COVID-19 response.[7]

Personal life

She lives in Trafford borough, in Altrincham. She married in April 2003 in Manchester.

References

  1. ^ "Co-op boss Jo Whitfield: I have the recipe to conquer suburbia". The Times. 2 Aug 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ Widnes Weekly News Thursday 20 August 1987, page 19
  3. ^ Wright, Georgia (2024-10-07). "Matalan CEO exits after just 18 months - Retail Gazette". Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  4. ^ "Girls Out Loud - Ambassadors". girlsoutloud.org.uk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  5. ^ Nazir, Sahar (2019-05-24). "Co-op CEO Jo Whitfield wins Business Woman Award". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  6. ^ Begum, Shelina (2019-05-24). "Co-op Food chief named Veuve Clicquot businesswoman of the year". men. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  7. ^ "No. 63218". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2020. p. N9.
Business positions
Preceded by Chief Executive of Co-op Food
March 2017 - 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Finance Director of Co-op Food
April 2016 - March 2017 		Succeeded by