Tesco UK store

New Tesco chief executive officer Philip Clarke has this week announced the composition of his executive committee, taking effect on 1 March 2011 when he succeeds Terry Leahy at the head of the UK retailer.

Chaired by Mr Clarke, the committee exists to run the company below the PLC board, with seven of the 14 being new members.

'I am delighted that I have been able to bring together such a strong team which possesses the right blend of talent and experience needed to drive the company forward and take it to a new level,' said Mr Clarke in a statement. 'This is a formidable group of people with an enviable range of talents gleaned over many years in Tesco and other organisations, both in the UK and overseas.'

The seven new members joining the committee include Gordon Fryett, responsible for property strategy, Trevor Masters, responsible for operations in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Turkey, and Bob Robbins, COO of the UK business.

The full membership of the new executive committee is:

Phillip Clarke - Group CEO
Tim Mason - Deputy group CEO and CEO of Fresh & Easy
Richard Brasher - CEO UK
Andrew Higginson - CEO services
Laurie McIlwee - CFO
Lucy Neville–Rolfe - Corporate and legal affairs director
David Potts - CEO Asia
Alison Horner* - Group personnel director
Gordon Fryett* - Property strategy
Trevor Masters* - Head of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Turkey
Mike McNamara* - CIO
Bob Robbins* - COO UK
Ken Towle* - Internet retailing director
Laura Wade-Gery* - Commercial director for UK clothing, electronics and general merchandise

(Those marked * are new members of the executive committee as of 1 March 2011)