Tesco executive Jill Easterbook to leave supermarket after 15 years

One of the key lieutenants to Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis has quit unexpectedly, less than a year into her role as the supermarket’s transformation director, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Jill Easterbrook, who has been with Tesco for 15 years in a variety of different roles, was tipped at one point as a possible chief executive of Tesco’s UK business but will now leave next month.

She was chief customer officer when Lewis arrived and in February this year was made head of transformation in one of the toughest years for the supermarket.

Tesco attempted to recover for a slump in sales and profits, watched its credit rating hit junk status and has a Serious Fraud Office investigation over accounting irregularities hanging over its head.

According to Tesco sources she was close to former chief executive Phil Clarke, adopting similar working styles as she became customer officer. However, she failed to get the top UK job, with Lewis opting to bring in well-liked Halfords boss Matt Davies.

In her 15 years at Tesco she has been strategy director, clothing director and joined the executive committee in 2012 as development officer.

It means Easterbrook is the second senior executive to leave under Lewis’s watch, with Chief Information Officer Mike McNamara quitting for a job in the US in February.

Tesco said: “After 15 years at Tesco, Jill Easterbrook has decided to leave the company early next year.