Shop Direct names Jon Rudoe as its first retail and technology director

London - Online retailer Shop Direct has appointed Jon Rudoe to its executive board to the newly created role of retail and technology director.

Rudoe will oversee the company's ecommerce, marketing, trading, commercial, business development, Very Exclusive and IT in his new role at Shop Direct, reporting directly to its CEO Alex Baldock. He is set to join the team in April, 2017 from Sainsbury's, where he is currently digital and technology director.

At Shop Direct Rudoe has been tasked with bringing together its retail teams with its IT teams for the first time. The new team structure is said to reflect the online pure player's increasing focus on delivering an easy, inspiring and personalised customer experience which will be underpinned by substantial investments in technology - particularly in the area of artificial intelligence.

"As a pure play etailer with a clear, proven strategy and a hunger to be at the forefront of customer-centred technological change, Shop Direct is arguably the most exciting place to be in UK retail right now," commented Jon Rudoe on his new role. "

Technology has an enormous role to play in further enhancing the shopping experience that Shop Direct offers its customers and in delivering its world class ambitions. The team is second to none and I’m excited to be joining and seeing what we can achieve together."

Rudoe's appointment to Shop Direct's executive board follows on from previous appointment this year, including those of Phil Hackney and Sasha Bersons as group operations director and group strategy and customer director respectively. "We’re delighted that Jon has chosen to join us at such a pivotal point in our transformation," added Alex Baldock, group CEO of Shop Direct.

"With four consecutive years of sales and profit growth under our belts, his vast experience and expertise in digital, technology and trading will help us further accelerate our ambitious plans to become a world class digital retailer...I can’t wait to work with Jon."

Photo: Jon Rudoe, courtesy of Shop Direct