Euan Sutherland Explained

Euan Sutherland
Birth Name:Euan Angus Sutherland
Birth Date: [1]
Nationality:British
Occupation:Businessman
CEO, Saga plc
Term:2020

Euan Sutherland is a Scottish businessman who was the Chief Executive of SuperGroup plc and Saga plc.[2] He served as the chief executive of Saga from January 2020 to November 2023.

Career

After training in marketing with Coca-Cola, he worked in marketing a retail management positions with Mars Confectionery, Matalan, Currys and Superdrug. He then joined Kingfisher plc, rising to the position of chief operating officer.[3]

Co-operative Group

Touted as a replacement for Kingfisher CEO Ian Cheshire, he joined the Co-operative Group in April 2013, taking over from Peter Marks as chief executive.[4]

Due to inadequate capital levels in its banking group, Moody's downgraded the bank's credit rating by six notches to junk status (Ba3) and the bank's chief executive Barry Tootell resigned.[5] The difficulties stemmed largely from the commercial loans of the Britannia Building Society, acquired in the 2009 merger.[6]

Sutherland restructured, by intending to sell the life insurance business to Royal London releasing about £200m in capital, and planning to dispose of its other insurance business.[4] On 5 June Richard Pennycook, former finance director of Morrisons, was named Co-operative Group's finance director, and Richard Pym, former chief executive of the Alliance & Leicester bank, as chair of the Co-operative Banking Group and the Co-operative Bank.[7]

In March 2014, Sutherland resigned from The Co-operative because he said "I now feel that until the Group adopts professional and commercial governance it will be impossible to implement what my team and I believe are the necessary changes and reforms to renew the Group and give it a relevant and sustainable future". He was replaced by Richard Pennycook, then chief financial officer, who became the group's interim Chief Executive.

Supergroup

On 22 October 2014, it was announced that Sutherland was CEO of SuperGroup plc.[8]

On 2 April 2019, Sutherland resigned as CEO of SuperGroup plc after founder Julian Dunkerton won a bid to be reinstated to the SuperGroup plc board.[9]

Saga

In December 2019, Saga appointed Sutherland as chief executive. At a crucial moment he joined with Saga. The insurance firm, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of the group 's earnings, has needed to dramatically slash premiums to stay profitable. Whereas the travel company is preparing to introduce two freshly built cruise ships.[10]

In November 2023, Sutherland resigned from Saga with immediate effect.

Personal life

Sutherland is married with three sons.[3] His interests include rugby union and Formula One.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Euan Angus Sutherland . 22 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Saga chief Euan Sutherland resigns as group explores debt reduction . 2023-11-29 . www.ft.com.
  3. Web site: Profile: New Co-op Group chief executive Euan Sutherland. Nicola. Harrison. Retail Week. 19 December 2012. 18 November 2013.
  4. News: Co-op weighs up banking arm rescue plan . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231239/https://www.ft.com/content/55253620-cb75-11e2-b1c8-00144feab7de . 11 December 2022 . subscription . Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Jennifer Thompson . Financial Times . 2 June 2013 . 4 June 2013 . live .
  5. News: Co-operative Bank rushes to reassure customers after downgrade . Rupert Neate and Jill Treanor . The Guardian . 10 May 2013.
  6. News: Crisis-hit Co-op hires ex-Morrisons finance chief Richard Pennycook and banker Richard Pym for restructuring . Rebecca . Clancy . The Daily Telegraph . 5 June 2013 . 5 June 2013.
  7. News: Co-op makes fresh changes at the top . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211231255/https://www.ft.com/content/a6fde04a-cdab-11e2-a13e-00144feab7de . 11 December 2022 . subscription . live . Adam . Jones . Financial Times . 5 June 2013 . 5 June 2013 .
  8. News: Superdry founder replaced as CEO role by ex-Co-op boss. BBC News. 22 October 2014.
  9. News: Superdry chiefs resign after founder wins comeback fight. BBC News. 2 April 2019.
  10. Web site: 11 December 2019. Saga hires former Superdry boss Euan Sutherland as chief executive. 16 June 2020. Financial Times.