<p>David Potts to take over immediately, as executive chair Allan Leighton steps back to non-executive strategic role</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/nov/03/saudi-oil-company-profits-australian-central-bank-rates-brent-crude-crypto-hack-energy-prices-latest-news-updates">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Asda has appointed the 69-year-old former boss of Morrisons, David Potts, as chief executive with immediate effect as it continues to struggle to lift sales.</p><p>The UK’s third largest supermarket said that 73-year-old executive chair <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/05/asda-chair-allan-leighton-aldi-supermarkets-sainsburys">Allan Leighton, who has been running the business since 2024</a>, would now step back to a non-executive role focusing on “the long-term strategic agenda for the business”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/03/asda-appoints-david-potts-former-morrisons-boss-chief-executive-sales-allan-leighton">Continue reading...</a>