Asda owner lures new boss with £10m pay package

Concerns over Mohsin Issa's level of involvement in the business are said to be delaying recruitment. Photo: John Super

A A senior industry source said: “There has always been a very attractive job offer [at Asda] from a financial perspective and this is the first time they are interviewing a lot of people. 

“The problem was simply working with Mohsin Issa, and it is still not resolved.

One senior industry executive said the proposed £10m package was still “not enough”. ” to get started.

Mr Issa's involvement is considered to be an impediment given the lack of clarity about how involved he will be in running the business once a CEO is hired.

An entrepreneur who made his fortune running a gas station. Empire with his brother Zuber, Mohsin Zuber has a hands-on management style.

Asda said on Friday it was “conducting an extensive international executive search to find a permanent CEO.” The supermarket said it was a “priority” for the board but stressed it was taking a “considered and thoughtful approach to recruiting the best candidate.”

Mr Issa's management of Asda's day-to-day operations has raised questions among industry experts given the supermarket's weak market share. Asda now accounts for 13.1% of the UK grocery market, up from 14.2% in August 2021, when Mr Issa took over from his predecessor.

It is clear that Mohsin is involved in this business has proven its effectiveness. be an obstacle in the search for a successor, with some retail executives withdrawing until his position is cleared.

Asda's search for a new chief comes amid significant changes to the business after the company went direct investment TDR Capital took a majority stake on Friday.

TDR was able to increase its stake in Asda from 45% to 67.5% after buying out Zuber Issa's 22.5% stake in the business. The Issa brothers bought the TDR business for £6.8bn in 2021.

Mohsin has since been in charge of running Asda from Leeds, while Zuber has remained in Blackburn to focus on his petrol station empire.< /p>

Mohsin has since been in charge of running Asda from Leeds.

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Asda declined to comment.