“More needs to be done to nurture female talent”

JO whitField, 51, is Chief executive for Co-op Food. Jo has been in the post at the Co-op for four years, and has worked her way up from Retail Finance Director to be the first female CEO in the grocery industry, and led Co-op’s buyout of Nisa. Jo is passionate about nurturing talent. She is an Ambassador for teen mentoring organisation Girls

Out Loud, and has recently pioneered a new network for the grocery industry, launching Grocery Girls. Jo says “There still aren’t enough women at the top in business. More needs to be done to nurture female talent. It’s important boardrooms reflect the diversity of society and the customers they serve. Attitudes are slowly changing, helped by women in senior roles who act as great role models.”