Cescau joins Tesco in non-exec role

Tesco has appointed former Unilever group chief executive Patrick Cescau to its board as a non-executive director. Cescau stepped down as Unilever group chief executive at the beginning of the year after nearly four years in the role.

The move comes amid reports the retailer will post its weakest Christmas sales figures since the early Nineties recession when it reveals its figures for six weeks to January 3rd tomorrow (January 13).

Tesco chairman David Reid says Cescau’s international experience of both developed and emerging markets, plus his broad knowledge of consumer goods would boost the supermarket’s senior management team.

The UK’s largest retailer was tipped last month to become the world’s second largest after US general retailer Walmart by 2012, despite the erosion of its UK market share due to gains by rival supermarkets Asda, which is owned by Walmart and Morrison.

Cescau has been replaced at Unilever Paul Polman, a former NestlÈ finance director and Proctor & Gamble Western Europe group president.