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Asda, the UK's third-largest supermarket chain, is on the cusp of a significant technological transformation. The company has been working tirelessly to separate its IT systems from those inherited from its former parent company, Walmart. However, with the departure of two key team members, it becomes increasingly clear that this process is taking longer than expected. Read more about Asda's ongoing struggle to break free from Walmart and how it's affecting its technological strategy.
Asda's CIO Carl Dawson and Vice President of Digital and Technology Rob Barnes are leaving the company in the coming months. Dawson joined Asda in April 2021, while Barnes joined in January 2024, both from Marks & Spencer. Their departures signal a significant shift in Asda's technological strategy and progress towards independence from Walmart. Asda's IT transformation project "Project Future" is plagued by delays and cost overruns, with an estimated completion date of at least Q3 2025. The company has announced new hires to try to stabilize the situation, including David Devany as VP eCommerce and digital business.
Asda, the UK's third-largest supermarket chain, is on the cusp of a significant technological transformation. The company has been working tirelessly to separate its IT systems from those inherited from its former parent company, Walmart. However, with the departure of two key team members, it becomes increasingly clear that this process is taking longer than expected.
Carl Dawson, Asda's Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Rob Barnes, Vice President of Digital and Technology, are set to leave the company in the coming months. According to internal communications seen by The Register, these departures signal a major milestone in Asda's journey towards technological independence from Walmart.
Dawson joined Asda from Marks & Spencer in April 2021, shortly after the company was sold by Walmart for £6.8 billion ($8.9 billion) to retail entrepreneurs Mohsin and Zuber Issa and private equity firm TDR Capital in February 2021. Barnes also joined from Marks & Spencer, where he had been CTO for delivery until January 2024.
The departure of these two high-ranking executives marks a significant shift in Asda's technological strategy. The company has been working on a major IT transformation project, codenamed "Project Future," which aims to create separate systems for store operations, ERP, and HR processes.
Asda signed a transitional services agreement with Walmart to guarantee support for its inherited IT systems for an initial period of three years. However, the company has since launched Project Future to upgrade its technology infrastructure.
Project Future has been plagued by delays, with estimates suggesting that it will not be completed until at least the third quarter of 2025. The project's total cost is estimated to be around £800 million ($1 billion), although Asda has promised that annual costs will halve in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The company's decision to postpone the tech transition of 55 stores to its new systems in January 2025 highlights the challenges being faced by Asda. Despite making significant progress, the project is still facing numerous hurdles, including delays and cost overruns.
In a move that has been seen as an attempt to stabilize the situation, Asda has announced that it will be hiring David Devany from Iceland Foods as Vice President of eCommerce and digital business. The company has also appointed Barney Burgess, currently interim VP online, as VP food online and chief analytics officer.
The departures of Dawson and Barnes serve as a reminder that breaking free from Walmart's technological legacy is proving to be an uphill battle for Asda. With the project still several months away from completion, it remains to be seen whether the company can successfully navigate its way through this challenging period.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Departure-of-Asdas-Tech-Team-A-Reflection-of-the-Retail-Giants-Ongoing-Struggle-to-Break-Free-from-Walmart-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/04/14/asda_cio_and_digital_veep/
Published: Mon Apr 14 04:30:50 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
