Asda appoints Cal Corcoran as group chief information officer

Core Insights - Asda has appointed Cal Corcoran as group chief information officer, effective January 5, 2026, to oversee technology and data functions as the company operates independently from Walmart [1][2] Group 1: Appointment and Responsibilities - Cal Corcoran brings over 25 years of senior IT leadership experience across various industries, including technology, financial services, civil aviation, oil and gas, telecommunications, and aerospace and defense [2] - Corcoran has held significant technology leadership roles at major organizations such as Microsoft, Barclays, Gatwick Airport, BP, and Castrol, and will guide Asda's technology and data operations [3] Group 2: Business Context - The appointment follows Asda's separation from Walmart, with a focus on developing its own systems [2] - Asda's executive chairman, Allan Leighton, emphasized the importance of data and technology in meeting customer expectations and expressed optimism about Corcoran's role in the company's growth strategy heading into 2026 [4] Group 3: Recent Performance - Asda reported a decline in underlying sales for Q3 2025, with total revenues excluding fuel at £5.1 billion ($6.76 billion) and like-for-like sales down 2.8% due to operational disruptions from a major technology overhaul [4][5] - The company attributed the performance issues to "severe disruption" following the cutover from Project Future, which significantly impacted trading [5]