The East of England Co-op has announced that chief executive Andy Rigby will step down in early 2027, bringing to a close a tenure that has seen the regional co-operative deliver three consecutive years of profit growth and expand its presence across eastern England.
Rigby will remain in post throughout a planned transition period and will support the recruitment and appointment of his successor.
The announcement comes at a time of strong performance for the member-owned business, which operates almost 200 locations and employs close to 3,000 colleagues across its food retail, funeral, travel and property operations.
Mandy Errington, president of the East of England Co-op, paid tribute to Rigby's leadership.
“Andy has led our co-op through a period of strong performance, while ensuring we remained firmly rooted in the values and principles that define who we are,” she said.
“Andy’s leadership has helped create a stronger, more resilient Society, with a clear vision for the future. Importantly, this planned transition comes at a time of strength for the business.”
Rigby joined the East of England Co-op in early 2022 as chief operations officer and has been promoted as as acting chief executive in December 2024.
During his tenure, the East of England Co-op has expanded into two additional counties, invested in new and existing stores, grown its travel business and strengthened its environmental and community commitments.
Among the key milestones achieved under Rigby's leadership was the opening of the Society's first cashless convenience store at Ipswich Station, which was recognised by IGD as one of the world's "25 Stores of the Future". The business has also reduced carbon emissions by 25 per cent over the past year.
Rigby said leading the co-operative had been one of the greatest privileges of his career.
“Together, we’ve built a stronger business, with a clear strategy, simple mission and lived values,” he said.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and must say a heartfelt thank you to our colleagues, members, customers and partners for their support.
“I will leave knowing that the East of England Co-op is well positioned for an exciting future as a proudly independent Society dedicated to serving the communities that have supported us so well over more than 155 years.”
Looking ahead, the Society said it would continue to pursue the next phase of its growth strategy, including diversifying beyond its core food and funeral operations, making greater use of its property portfolio and accelerating the adoption of technology to enhance the customer and member experience.