Home Retail Group has announced the appointment of Echo Lu as MD for Homebase. Echo has significant experience in retailing both in the UK and Asia, and will take up her new position on 20th April.
Echo joins Homebase from Tesco where she worked over the past 10 years across different markets and a broad range of functions. Her most recent roles were as group business planning and insight director and property director for Tesco UK and Ireland, and she was also a member of the UK board. Prior to these roles, Echo held a number of roles in Tesco’s Asian business, including COO for China, operations director, East China, and commercial buying for grocery.
Her career commenced at Bristol-Myers Squibb where she held a number of roles, culminating as HR director for China. Echo graduated in International Economy & Finance at Fudan University.
John Walden, Home Retail Group chief executive, comments: “Echo has significant, broad-based retail experience both in the UK and the rapidly-evolving Asian region, and importantly has been an agent for positive change throughout her career. She is the ideal candidate to lead Homebase and its productivity plan, as we improve the store operational standards and customer service, develop stronger customer propositions and accelerate Homebase’s digital capabilities, and realise its potential for greater growth.”
Echo adds: “I am delighted to join Home Retail Group and to lead the Homebase business. Homebase is a strong UK brand with an ambitious plan in the short-term to strengthen its foundations and exciting longer-term growth opportunities. I look forward to working with John, his executive team, the Homebase leadership team and the 18,000 Homebase colleagues to build a stronger business for the future.”
