Management

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 CR&S Committee and the Operating Board Sponsor for Inclusion. Simon has worked in retail for over 30 years, having started at Marks and Spencer and joining Sainsbury’s from Boots where he was most recently Executive Vice President of Walgreens Boots Alliance and President of Boots UK and Ireland. Simon is President of IGD and a Member of the Government’s Retail Sector Council and Advisory Board Member of Diversity in Retail.

Simon is leading Sainsbury’s plan to put food back at the heart of the business. 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 as part of a cost of living support package. Simon is a dedicated, determined and enthusiastic champion for our customers and colleagues and for inclusion and diversity across our company.

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 moving to Commercial and Retail Finance Director in 2021. Bláthnaid is the Operating Board Co-Sponsor for Disability. 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.

Rhian Bartlett

Chief Food Commercial Officer

Rhian joined the Operating Board in November 2020, having returned to Sainsbury’s in 2019 as Director of Fresh Food. She is responsible for delivering the commercial performance of Sainsbury’s food business and brands. Rhian is also the Operating Board Sponsor for Gender. She has over 20 years’ experience in the retail industry and has held a variety of senior commercial roles, including Customer and Digital Director at Screwfix and Director of UK Trading at eBay. Rhian’s previous roles at Sainsbury’s include Business Unit Director Non-Food Grocery and Head of Online Merchandising. Rhian is a Non-Executive Director at Speedy Hire Plc and is a Trustee of GroceryAid.

Graham Biggart

Chief Transformation & General Merchandise Commercial Officer

Graham joined the Operating Board in March 2022. As Chief Transformation & General Merchandise Commercial Officer, Graham is responsible for our strategy and the delivery of major change programmes across our business, in addition to our Supply Chain, Logistics & Fulfilment, and Central Business Services. He is also accountable for the commercial performance of our General Merchandise and Clothing brands; including Argos, Habitat and Tu. Graham is the Operating Board Sponsor for Ethnicity. Graham joined Sainsbury’s in 2015 and has led a number of different areas of the business in that time, across commercial, operations and channels, including as Commercial Director for Fresh Food & Foodservice, and as Commercial Operations Director covering Range, Space, Price & Formats in Food, General Merchandise and Clothing, as well as the Sainsbury’s Local and Argos Republic of Ireland businesses. Prior to Sainsbury’s, Graham worked at McKinsey & Company, and before that at Brunswick Group. Graham is a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk & Audit Committee of GS1 UK.

Mark Given

Chief Marketing Officer

Mark joined the Operating Board in June 2020. He has significant experience in customer insight, brand communication and digital marketing. Mark joined Sainsbury’s in 2012, becoming Marketing Director in 2017. He was appointed Chief Marketing Officer in August 2019 and has responsibility for Marketing & Loyalty across the Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu clothing and Habitat brands. Mark has also been responsible for the Nectar Loyalty coalition and the Nectar360 media business since 2018. In 2021, Mark assumed responsibility for all Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability activity, including delivery of our Plan for Better targets. Mark is the Operating Board Sponsor for the LGBT+ inclusion lane. Prior to joining Sainsbury’s, Mark built his digital skills leading the Priority programme at O₂, where he was Head of Sponsorship. Before this, Mark worked with key brands at Heineken UK where he was Brand Director. He began his career at Procter & Gamble UK before working across Europe on a variety of brands. Mark is currently a Council Member of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and a Fellow of the Marketing Society.

Prerana Issar

Chief People Officer

Prerana joined the Operating Board in May 2023. Prior to joining Sainsbury’s, Prerana was the NHS’s first Chief People Officer and supported the 1.2 million people who work for the NHS to deliver critical care for patients, including through the COVID-19 pandemic, the most challenging period of the NHS’s history. Before that, Prerana worked at the United Nations World Food Programme as Director of Public-Private Partnerships and Chief HR Officer. She is focused on HR delivering commercial impact, having started her career at Unilever plc, where she spent 15 years and finishing her time there as Vice President of HR for Global Food. Prerana is a trustee on the Marie Curie Board of Trustees.

Clodagh Moriarty

Chief Retail and Technology Officer

Clodagh joined the Operating Board in 2018 and was appointed as Chief Retail and Technology Officer in March 2023, combining the leadership of Technology with the Group’s Digital and Retail teams. She is responsible for all stores and their operations, as well as Sainsbury’s digital offer and strategy, ensuring customers experience an integrated and seamless shopping experience across Sainsbury’s, Argos, Tu, Sainsbury’s Bank and Nectar. Clodagh’s previous roles in Sainsbury’s include Retail and Digital Director and Chief Digital Officer. Clodagh is the Operating Board Sponsor for Wellbeing. Clodagh joined Sainsbury’s as Head of Strategy, following nine years at Bain & Company. and, during her time with us, has had numerous leadership roles across commercial and channels. She is a Non-Executive Director of Taylor Wimpey plc and sits on their Nomination and Governance and Remuneration Committees.