Uchumi [Photo/kahawatungu.com]Uchumi Supermarkets has appointed Andrew Dixon as chief operating officer (COO) as part of its turnaround strategy.
Dixon replaces Willy Kimani who had been head-hunted by the chief executive officer Julius Kipngetich from rival retail chain Naivas hoping to leverage on his experience in the sector to turnaround the struggling supermarket.
Kimani, however, left the retail chain after only eight months to return to Naivas.
The position which had not been substantially filled since Kimani’s exit had cast a dark shadow on the retailer’s recovery efforts making it difficult for the chief executive to return the Nairobi Stock Exchange-listed retailer to profitability.
“I welcome Andrew to the Uchumi Supermarkets Plc team.
He comes at a time when Uchumi requires his expertise as we walk the last mile of our turnaround,” said Kipngetich.
Dixon, who is the immediate chief marketing officer at the still struggling Nakumatt Supermarket, has a wealth of experience that spans many countries where he worked at various listed companies.
The retail chain will bank on his vast experience particularly now when it seeks a strategic investor to inject an estimated Sh3.5 billion to plug the Sh5 billion debt hole the supermarket owes financiers and suppliers.
The government is also expected to release Sh1.2 billion to the retailer as part of a bailout plan.