Booker Group appoints Geoff Byrne as CEO

Booker Group has appointed Geoff Byrne as CEO.

He brings extensive experience in senior leadership roles to Booker, most recently as CEO of Tesco Ireland & Northern Ireland, where he led a period of sustained growth, investment, and market share gains.

Byrne (pictured) is replaced as CEO of Tesco Ireland & Northern Ireland by Andrew Yaxley, who previously served as CEO of Tesco Ireland from 2015 to 2018.

He subsequently joined the Tesco Group leadership team as chief product officer before becoming CEO of Booker in December 2020. Since then, he has helped to drive growth at Booker and strengthen its position in a highly competitive market.

The appointments take effect on 31 August, and both Byrne and Yaxley will continue to form part of the Tesco Group executive committee.

Byrne commented: “Booker is a fantastic business with a unique position in the market, and I’m excited to work with colleagues there to build on its many strengths. Andrew is an outstanding leader who knows the Irish business incredibly well, and I wish him every success.”

Yaxley said: “I’m delighted to be returning to Tesco Ireland and look forward to working with colleagues to build on the strong momentum already in place. Under Geoff’s leadership, the business has delivered excellent progress, growing its position in the market while continuing to serve customers and communities across Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, added: “Tesco Ireland & Northern Ireland are both great businesses with talented teams and ambitious plans for the future. Developing talent across our group and creating opportunities for leaders to bring their experience into different parts of the business is a key strength of Tesco.

“Andrew and Geoff have each made a huge contribution in their current roles. Their experience, knowledge and track record make them the right leaders for the next chapter for Booker and Tesco Ireland & Northern Ireland.”