AF Blakemore appoints Nicola McIntosh as chief people officer

AF Blakemore & Son has appointed Nicola McIntosh as chief people officer, effective 20 May 2024.

McIntosh (pictured) joins the company from Rotherham, Doncaster & South Humber NHS Trust, where she served as executive board director of people & organisational development. In this role, she led a team of 120 and played a key role in navigating the Trust’s workforce through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to that, McIntosh held leadership positions at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Jet2Holidays, and Wm Morrisons Supermarkets, where she established a strong reputation for delivering innovative learning & development programmes, organisational development strategies, and leadership development initiatives.

McIntosh said: “I’ve loved my time at the NHS but I’m delighted to move back into retail where my experience and knowledge of championing performance can be used across all functions and disciplines.

“I thrive in organisations where the culture prioritises their people and it was clear that AF Blakemore, whilst employing a workforce of over 7,000 people, still retained the family values that are at the heart of its DNA.”

AF Blakemore CEO Carol Welch commented: “Nicola’s deep understanding of the complexities of people and leadership, coupled with her passion for creating high-performing teams in inclusive work environments, perfectly aligns with our values at AF Blakemore. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to foster a culture that empowers our colleagues and drives long-term success for our organisation.”