Ian McLeod, group CEO at DFI Retail Group – formerly known as Dairy Farm International – is to step down at the end of July after six years in the role.
He will be replaced by Scott Price, who takes up the position on August 1. Price most recently held the role of president, international at UPS and has 25 years of global experience spanning retail, logistics and the FMCG industries, 19 of those in Asia. His career includes being the first CEO of Walmart’s Asia business, president and CEO at DHL Express in Europe and various management roles with the Coca-Cola Company. He currently serves as a non-executive director on the board of Coles in Australia.
Ben Keswick, chairman of DFI Retail Group, has paid tribute to McLeod’s leadership during a “comprehensive business transformation” that saw Dairy Farm strengthen its market-leading positions across multiple Southeast Asian markets, spanning customer experience, product propositions, core operating systems and processes, and the supply chain.
“With Ian’s leadership, DFI has responded to changing market needs for an integrated omnichannel customer experience with new store formats; the launch of Meadows, our own brand business with more than 3000 new items in three years; and via the launches of the Yuu Rewards loyalty program in Hong Kong and Singapore – which now has 4 million members in Hong Kong alone – and Yuu-to-Me, a one-stop online shopping experience in Hong Kong.”
McLeod, who will remain with the group until the beginning of August to ensure a smooth leadership transition, leaves a pan-Asian, multi-category retail giant with more than 10,600 retail outlets, 216,000 staff and an annual turnover last year exceeding US$27 billion. Its retail businesses include Ikea in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia, supermarket chains Giant and Wellcome, 7-Eleven convenience stores in multiple Asian markets, Mannings in Hong Kong, Guardian in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore, and a joint venture that operates Starbucks in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Singapore.
Prior to working with Dairy Farm, McLeod was the MD of Coles from 2008 when it was owned by Wesfarmers and led the supermarket chain’s turnaround. After a stint as commercial director with Wesfarmers he left Australia to take the helm of US grocery operator Bi-Lo in 2015, prior to relocating to Hong Kong in 2017.
Strong track record
Meanwhile, Keswick says Price joins DFI Retail Group as group CEO with a strong track record leading comprehensive programs to transform business growth, talent and culture.
“Scott has successfully led several large, multi-business organisations. He has the combination of strategic, execution and Asia expertise to oversee our portfolio of leading retail businesses across the region, building on our solid foundations to create long-term value.”
