Britain’s second largest supermarket group has upgraded its HR department by
promoting the function’s head to the main company board.
Imelda Walsh, Sainsbury’s HR director, becomes the first board-level HR
professional to be appointed in the retailer’s 134-year history.
The move is designed to give the HR department more influence at the very
top of the company as it strives to catch its main competitor Tesco.
"I’m delighted to be joining the main Sainsbury’s Supermarkets board.
Although my day-to-day duties will remain the same, historically, this is the
first time there has been someone on the board who is solely dedicated to
HR," said Walsh, who joined the company in 2001.
"I believe this further underlines Sainsbury’s commitment to HR and I
look forward to continuing to drive this area of the business forward,"
she added.
Before the promotion, Walsh reported to John Adshead, who had top-level
responsibility for IT, business transformation and HR for about 173,800 employees.
The move is the culmination of two years of work, which has seen the central
HR function split into three teams covering organisational change, resourcing
and reward.
The promotion marks a significant shift in the sector as the majority of
companies do not have an HR director on the main company board.
By Ross Wigham
HR’s standing in the supermarkets
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Company                  head of department                Member of the board
Tesco                         Clare Chapman                       No
Sainsbury’s                 Imelda Walsh                         Yes
Asda                          David Smith                            Yes
Safeway                      Jim White                                No
Marks & Spencer        Jean Tomlin                            No
Morrisons                    David Ward                           No
