According to Co-op, Dower has more than two decades of senior leadership experience spanning food retail, convenience, hospitality and FMCG, including roles at Tesco, Pret A Manger, Mars and PepsiCo.

His appointment comes as Co-op reported continued business momentum, with the retailer stating that Dower would be directly responsible for a retailer with a store footprint in more than 2,300 locations and an annual turnover of more than £7.25 billion.

As managing director, Dower will focus on accelerating Co-op Food retail growth, strengthening the customer proposition, supporting innovation across stores and digital channels, and ensuring the business delivers value for members.

Commenting on his appointment, Kate Allum, interim group CEO, said: “Alex brings a wealth of experience and a passion for building successful customer-focused businesses, in ways that make a meaningful difference to customers’ everyday lives. His personal values and leadership approach are fully aligned with our Co-op and I’m excited about the impact he will have in driving our Food Retail business forwards.”

Alex Dower, managing director at Co-op Retail, commented: “I’m delighted to be joining Co-op at such an important time for the business. Co-op stores are woven into communities across the UK, and I’m looking forward to working with our fantastic colleagues to make it even more relevant to members and customers every day. Co-op’s purpose and values are what set it apart, and I’m excited to build upon the strong foundations already in place, accelerating growth and innovation, while staying true to what makes Co-op so special.