Case Study

Asda

Building Asda’s technology leadership team through a critical separation programme

James Duke

Key Accounts Director, UK

The Business Challenge

Asda was undergoing a major £700 million divestment from Walmart
to TDR Capital, creating significant pressure across its technology and
transformation landscape.

The separation required critical systems and infrastructure to continue
operating effectively throughout an accelerated transformation
programme. Failure to deliver successfully would risk operational disruption
and potential loss of revenue.

The scale and pace of the programme created demand for an elite
technology leadership team capable of leading delivery across multiple
critical workstreams.

The Solution

Levy partnered with Asda to rapidly build a senior technology leadership
team aligned to the scale and complexity of the transformation
programme.

The engagement was led directly through Levy’s existing relationship
with the Group CIO, following a previous large-scale transformation
programme delivered together at Gatwick Airport. All placements were
sourced from Levy’s existing network, enabling fast access to proven
transformation leaders without relying on active market recruitment.
Levy worked closely with the CIO through daily calls to maintain
momentum, refine requirements and ensure delivery remained aligned to
programme priorities.

The search focused on individuals with established track records
delivering in complex transformation environments, reducing delivery risk
and accelerating onboarding into critical leadership positions.

Delivery Highlights

8 Senior Leadership Hires

Delivered across critical transformation functions

100% Network

All hires sourced through Levy’s existing relationships

3 Months

Programme delivered from first placement to completed leadership team

Outcomes & Impact

Delivery & Capability

Delivered a senior IT leadership team to support Asda’s separation and
transformation programme.
Successfully placed leadership hires across key functions including
CDO, Head of SAP, Head of Blue Yonder, Chief of Staff, Head of
Governance, Head of Delivery, Head of Technology Assurance and
Head of Portfolio Management.

Capacity & Talent Access

Completed the senior hiring programme within approximately three
months.
Leveraged Levy’s long-established network to access highly passive
transformation leaders not actively on the market.
Delivered all placements directly through Levy’s existing network
relationships.

Continuity & Stability

Supported greater systems stability during a critical transformation
period, with fewer P1 outages reported.
Strengthened the long-term client relationship through trusted delivery
at speed and scale.