Management

Image of Martin Scicluna

Martin Scicluna

Chair

Martin joined the Board as Chair Designate and Non-Executive Director on 1 November 2018. He was appointed Chair of the Board on 10 March 2019, and is also Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee and a member of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Committee. Martin brings a wealth of experience from over 30 years’ service as an executive and non-executive board director at a wide range of companies. Previous roles include Chairman of RSA Insurance Group plc, Chairman of Great Portland Estates plc, Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Worldpay Inc., and Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Lloyds Banking Group plc. He was a partner at Deloitte LLP for 26 years, serving as Chairman from 1995 to 2007, where his clients included Dixons, WH Smith, Alliance Unichem and Cadbury.

Martin has extensive experience as a Chair. He brings valuable knowledge and skills in developing strategy and evaluating business opportunities, along with understanding of the financial services sector and how it operates. As Chair, Martin has a deep understanding of governance and what is needed to lead an effective Board.

Image of Simon Roberts

Simon Roberts

Chief Executive

Simon was appointed as Chief Executive on 1 June 2020, having joined Sainsbury’s and the Operating Board in July 2017 as Retail & Operations Director, with responsibility for Stores, Central Operations and Logistics. He is a member of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Committee. Simon has worked in retail for over 35 years, having started at Marks and Spencer and joined Sainsbury’s from Boots where he was Executive Vice President of Walgreens Boots Alliance and President of Boots UK and Ireland. Simon is President of IGD, a Member of the Government’s Retail Sector Council and an Advisory Board Member of Diversity in Retail.

Simon is leading Sainsbury’s plan to become First choice for food. Under Simon’s stewardship, Sainsbury’s has launched its Plan for Better, which is integrated into our strategy and includes a bold commitment to become net zero across our own operations by 2035. Simon has led significant investments into colleague pay, most recently leading the industry in paying the Living Wage across the whole country. Simon is the Operating Board Sponsor for Inclusion and is a dedicated, determined and enthusiastic champion for our customers and colleagues and for inclusion and diversity across our company.

Image of Bláthnaid Bergin

Bláthnaid Bergin

Chief Financial Officer

Bláthnaid was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on 5 March 2023, having joined Sainsbury’s in 2019 as Group Director of Finance before becoming Commercial and Retail Finance Director in 2021. Prior to joining Sainsbury's, Bláthnaid held senior finance leadership roles at Aviva and RSA. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and spent most of her career at GE in various finance roles working across Europe, Asia and Australia. Bláthnaid was previously Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director for Artemis Alpha Investment Trust.

 
Bláthnaid is a highly respected leader with a strong record of financial leadership. Over the last five years at Sainsbury's, she has supported the development and delivery of our strategy. Bláthnaid has extensive international and finance experience gained during previous and current executive and non-executive positions.

Image of Jo Bertram

Jo Bertram

Non-Executive Director

Jo joined the Board on 7 July 2022 and is a member of the Nomination and Governance and Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Committees. Jo is a highly talented strategic business leader with significant experience leading transformation and change. Prior to becoming Managing Director, Business & Wholesale at Virgin Media O2, Jo held senior Director and Strategy roles at O2. Between 2013 and 2017, she held the position of Regional General Manager, Northern Europe at Uber. Jo has previously worked at McKinsey and Accenture and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Jo has worked in growing hi-tech sectors which benefits our customers as we explore new ways to use digital solutions to make shopping easy and convenient.

Image of Brian Cassin

Brian Cassin

Senior Independent Director

Brian joined the Board on 1 April 2016 and became the Senior Independent Director on 7 July 2022. He is a member of the Audit and Nomination and Governance Committees. He brings relevant experience of running a FTSE 100 group with knowledge of big data and analytics, both areas of key importance to Sainsbury’s. As Chief Executive Officer of Experian plc, Brian brings strong leadership experience and a substantial background in operating within a regulated environment. He joined Experian plc as Chief Financial Officer in April 2012, a post he held until his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in July 2014. Prior to this, Brian spent his career in investment banking at Greenhill & Co, where he was Managing Director and Partner. Brian has also held various roles at Baring Brothers International and at the London Stock Exchange.

Brian’s current experience as a chief executive and his work in the financial and technology sectors provide valuable industry insight.

Image of Jo Harlow

Jo Harlow

Non-Executive Director

Jo joined the Board on 11 September 2017 and became Chair of the Remuneration Committee in July 2022. She is a member of the Nomination and Governance and Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Committees. Jo brings a wealth of experience in consumer-facing businesses and the telecoms and technology industries, both in the UK and internationally. She was Corporate Vice President of the Phones Business Unit at Microsoft Corporation and, before that, was Executive Vice President of Smart Devices at Nokia, following a number of senior management roles at Nokia from 2003. Prior to that, Jo held marketing, sales and management roles at Reebok International Limited from 1992 to 2003 and at Procter & Gamble from 1984 to 1992. Jo was previously a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of InterContinental Hotels Group plc. Jo is Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Halma plc, Non-Executive Director and member of the Remuneration Committee and Nominations Committee at Centrica plc, and Director of Chapter Zero.

Jo has broad experience from executive and non-executive roles and she has helped the business deliver and evolve its sustainability strategy. She also brings current external Remuneration Committee experience.

Image of Adrian Hennah

Adrian Hennah

Non-Executive Director

Adrian joined the Board on 1 April 2021. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration and Nomination and Governance Committees. Adrian has significant financial and strategic expertise leading the performance and strategy of many large companies. He started his career working in audit and consultancy with PwC and Stadtsparkasse Köln, the German regional bank. Adrian spent 18 years in Chief Financial Officer roles at three FTSE 100 companies. He was Chief Financial Officer at Reckitt Benckiser (RB) for seven years and held the same position at Smith & Nephew and Invensys. Prior to this he spent 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline working in both finance and operations. He was also previously Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at RELX. Adrian currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, a Non-Executive Director of Unilever plc, an external member (NED) of the Finance Committee (Board) of Oxford University Press and a Trustee of Our Future Health.

Adrian brings extensive financial and leadership experience to Sainsbury’s gained from Chief Financial Officer positions held in some of the UK’s largest companies, notably at RB, which produces leading hygiene, health and nutritional brands. 

Image of Tanuj Kapilashrami

Tanuj Kapilashrami

Non-Executive Director

Tanuj joined the Board on 1 July 2020 and is a member of the Nomination and Governance and Remuneration Committees. She is an international banker with significant experience in transformation, talent and change management, both in the UK and globally. Tanuj is the Chief Strategy and Talent Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, where she leads the strategy, HR, corporate affairs, brand and marketing, property and supply chain teams and in turn is responsible for how the Standard Chartered Bank develops, executes and communicates its strategy. She joined Standard Chartered in 2017 and was the Bank’s Chief Human Resources Officer from 2018 to 2024. Prior to this, Tanuj built her career in banking over 17 years in key global and regional HR leadership roles across multiple markets within HSBC. She has also previously served as a Director of Financial Services Skills Commission Limited. Tanuj is a recognised thought-leader on the future of work and has been featured by leading global media on a range of topics, including culture, leadership, inclusion and skills. Tanuj is also a Associate Non-Executive Director of the Board of NHS England, a member of the Asia House Board of Trustees, and on the Board of Autumn, an integrated digital wealth, health and lifestyle solutions start-up.

Tanuj is a valuable member of the Board as the business continues to adapt and support its colleagues in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Image of Keith Weed CBE

Keith Weed CBE

Non-Executive Director

Keith joined the Board on 1 July 2020 and became Chair of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Committee on 7 July 2022. Keith is also a member of the Audit and Nomination and Governance Committees. Keith is an exceptionally capable marketing and digital leader. He has championed new ways of integrating sustainability into business and building brands with purpose. Keith was awarded a CBE for services to the advertising and marketing industry in the 2021 New Years Honours List. He has a strong business background, having spent 36 years at Unilever plc, most recently as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, which included leading the company’s ground-breaking sustainability programme globally. Whilst at Unilever, Keith led different parts of the business, during which time he worked closely with Sainsbury’s and other retailers. He has strong international experience and knowledge, having run international businesses both in the UK and overseas. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of WPP plc, Trustee Director of Business in the Community, Trustee Director of The Leverhulme Trust and President of the the Royal Horticultural Society. He is also a trustee of Grange Park Opera.

Keith plays an important role in Sainsbury’s strategic focus to become First choice for food and delivering on our Plan for Better. He has an excellent understanding of both sustainability and digital and the ways that technology is transforming businesses.

Image of Nick Grant

Nick Grant

General Counsel and Company Secretary

Nick was appointed to the newly created role of General Counsel & Company Secretary in July 2024. Nick provides legal and corporate governance advice and support to the Board and Committees and oversees secretarial support for all legal entities within the Group.

Prior to this appointment Nick was for 8 years Director of Legal Services at Sainsbury’s, leading a full-service in-house team of 40 legal advisors and advising senior management on corporate transactions, material litigation and reputation management.