Tesco plans shake-up of digital strategy

LONDON - Tesco is planning a major overhaul of its online strategy with speculation suggesting that Steve Robinson, chief executive of its non-grocery business Tesco Direct, is to leave the company.

According to a report in The Sunday Times, Tesco is keen to iron out recurring problems on its online service, which has its first birthday this month, and will launch a 1,000-page searchable web directory for its non-food and drinks products this week.

It is understood that as part of the overhaul, Robinson, who is a former finance director at Argos, may step down after two year's service.

Tesco announced in March that it planned to restructure its marketing arm following the expansion of Tesco Direct, which retails electrical goods, home furnishings, DIY, furniture and sports accessories.

The £30m expansion, which increased the product range on Tesco Direct by 25% to around 7,000 products, led to the promotion of Kendra Banks to marketing director from head of marketing in March.

The supermarket giant said earlier this year that it planned to "raise the bar" in the home shopping sector by expanding Tesco Direct, which could put an additional £2bn on its annual UK sales.

Tesco has so far declined to comment on whether Robinson is to step down as chief executive, but City analysts have suggested he could make way as part of the development of the Tesco Direct online business.

The speculation about Robinson's future comes as rival Sainsbury's recently hired Tanya Lawler, a former Argos commercial director, as director of online.

You have

[DAYS_LEFT] Days left

of your free trial

Subscribe now

Get a team licence 

 Give your teams unrestricted access to in-depth editorial analysis, breaking news and premium reports with a bespoke subscription to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10.

Find out more

Market Reports

Get unprecedented new-business intelligence with access to ±±¾©Èü³µpk10’s new Market Reports.

Find out more

Looking for a new job?

Get the latest creative jobs in advertising, media, marketing and digital delivered directly to your inbox each day.

Create an Alert Now