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He may be a former City boy but he shuns a pinstripe image. Alex Lawson reports on the Ocado co-founder and his new role.
Ocado co-founder Jason Gissing was thrown back into the limelight last week as he stepped up to the newly created role of commercial director.
Gissing's change of responsibilities came as finance director Andrew Bracey revealed he is to leave the online grocery business in April - a departure that raised anew questions about Ocado's prospects. Gissing is now responsible for buying, supplier and customer relationships, marketing and brand development.
It should suit a man who likes business building, but not number crunching - he famously said pre-Ocado float: "I would rather shoot myself than be a finance director of a listed company."
However, he has plenty of experience poring over balance sheets and admits it will be helpful. "I spent almost 10 years as the chief financial officer and therefore have an understanding of the commercial mechanics of this business," he explains.
As part of the...