Carrefour has named Nestle executive Jérôme Le Bleis to take charge of its supply chain in France.
Le Bleis will replace Didier Thibaud, who has been appointed as manager of Carrefour’s drinks subsidiary Prodis, spokesperson for the company said today (23 November). Le Bleis is expected to take up his role on 9 January. He has served as project manager for the Nestle Waters’ Lean programme since March 2009.
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There has been a number of executive changes at Carrefour this year, which has seen parts of its business struggle, particularly in France.
Last month, commercial and group merchandise director Ignacio González Hernández resigned but the retailer declined to comment on reasons for his departure.
In June, Carrefour appointed Noël Prioux, the head of the retailer’s European operations, as executive director of its French business following the departure of former Tesco James McCann after only 14 months in the role.
There has also been speculation over the future of Carrefour CEO Lars Olofsson. A report this week claimed the retailer’s two major investors were reportedly mulling whether to replace Olofsson.
Groupe Arnault, the holding company of French billionaire Bernard Arnault, and US private-equity firm Colony Capital, plan to give Olofsson until the end of the year to turn around Carrefour’s business in France, Bloomberg reported.
Carrefour has made a series of profit warnings this year and last month said its annual operating income could fall by 15-20% in 2011.
