One-time shelf stacker in line to be the next Morrisons chief

FORMER Tesco executive David Potts is in pole position to become the next chief executive of Morrisons after the company ousted Dalton Philips two weeks ago.

The process is understood to be ‘advancing rapidly’ and the shortlist is now down to ‘four or five’ candidates, sources told The Mail on Sunday.

Several people, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a former colleague of the current chairman Andy Higginson is being seen as the prime candidate.

One source said: ‘His name is on everyone’s lips.’

Another source said: ‘I’m only surprised that he hasn’t been announced already since it’s my understanding that he’s first in line for the job.’

Higginson, who worked for Tesco from 1997 to 2012, is understood to be conducting final interviews and is expected to make an announcement within weeks.

One London-based headhunter said: ‘Potts is close to Higginson and he’s well known as an excellent operator. The fact that they know each other well and are both so experienced should help speed any recovery. The market would react well to his appointment.’

Potts, 57, left Tesco in December 2011 just three months after Higginson. He was Tesco’s longest serving director and had begun as a shelf stacker in 1973, rising to become head of its Asian business.

Other candidates have included Ian McLeod, former chief executive of Halfords and then Coles in Australia, but last week he accepted a job running the 840-store US grocery chain Bi-Lo.

Two other former Tesco executives – Richard Brasher and John Browett – have also been considered although Browett is thought to have ruled himself out.