Asda loses another chief as Sean Clarke exits

Asda today lost its third boss in 16 months as the retailer revealed its number two Roger Burnley will take over from Sean Clarke.

The supermarkets group today said Clarke is “taking some time out” after just a year in the job.

Burnley (pictured) will step up from chief operating officer to the £1-million-a-year chief executive job at Asda in January.

The former Sainsbury’s man returned to Asda in October last year as chief operating officer and deputy chief executive, following the appointment of Clarke as president and chief executive in the July. He replaced namesake Andy Clarke.

Owner Walmart’s international chief, Dave Cheesewright, dubbed Burnley “a future chief executive” when he rejoined.

Clarke will work with Burnley “to ensure a smooth transition”, the grocer said today, and would “stay connected” to Walmart, its parent company.

Next month, the pair will have to preside over Black Friday, the imported marketing day which the US-owned retailer has bet big on.

Asda suffered a plunge in profits last year amid the supermarket price wars, but reported the first sales growth in three years in August.

Nick Bubb, a retail analyst, said: “The feeling was that he would take over as chief executive as soon as he had his feet under the table, after a lengthy period of garden leave. Clarke is an FD-type really.”