Uchumi supermarket hires former Nakumatt executive amid financial problems

david nganga

November 8, 2017 2:23 PM

The appointment comes one month after he left rival retailer Nakumatt where he served as chief marketing officer.

Ex-Tesco executive Andrew Dixon has been appointed by Uchumi supermarket as the retailer's chief operating officer(COO).

“The board (of Uchumi) has approved the appointment of Mr Dixon as the chief operating officer of the company,” Julius Kipngetich, Uchumi’s chief executive, said in a notice on Wednesday.

“Mr Dixon has extensive experience in the retail sector and the board is confident that his expertise will support the ongoing efforts towards achieving a turnaround in the operations and business of the company,” he added.

Dixon joined Nakumatt in November 2016 as the retail chain aimed at seeking outside assistance to help turnaround the business that is heavily crippled by debt.

He joins Uchumi at a time when the retail chain, just like Nakumatt, is grappling with financial issues that has seen it run out of stock at its branches.

The loss-making retailer hope that Mr Dixon's retail expertise will help turnaround its business even as management awaits a Sh3.5 billion capital injection from an unnamed investor.

david nganga