Blakemore appoints David Cooke as group commercial director

AF Blakemore & Son has appointed David Cooke to the newly created role of group commercial director.

Cooke (pictured) has a background in trading, proposition and product development gained through stints with national and international organisations including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, health & beauty retailer AS Watson and latterly Dutch store chain HEMA where he was director of food, health & beauty.

In his new role, Cooke will create and implement a new commercial strategy aligned with Blakemore’s five-year plan.

His job will entail end-to-end accountability for the company’s commercial function, with a focus on developing supplier partnerships, managing commercial trading terms, developing retail propositions and accelerating the roll-out of Blakemore’s fresh food strategy.

Group CEO Jerry Marwood commented: “I am pleased to welcome David Cooke to the Blakemore team. He brings significant commercial experience in developing strategic relationships with suppliers as well as a background in the development of exciting food propositions.

“David is a great fit for our culture, having been attracted to AF Blakemore because of our values and approach to responsible business.”

Published Date: February 22, 2022