The chief executive of Co-op Food is to take a career break to help her sons through their exams.
Jo Whitfield is to step away from her role for four months from May.
Group CEO Steve Murrells will take day-to-day control of the Co-op’s convenience food business which operates over 2,600 stores across the UK and owns wholesaler Nisa.
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Jo Whitfield said: "I always knew that this year would be a big year with my boys undertaking key exams. We decided as a family, that in order to prepare for the inevitable pressure and emotional turmoil that would involve, that when the time came, I would look to spend more time with them to ease the challenge.
"I can take this time away reassured by the knowledge we have a strong food leadership team who will keep moving our Co-op forward, working with support and guidance from Steve Murrells, our Co-op CEO."
Mr Murrells added: "We will miss Jo and wish her and her family well over the coming months."
Jo Whitfield has been CEO of Co-op Food since March 2017, having first joined the Manchester-headquartered group as the division's chief financial officer in April 2016.
She has previously held roles at Asda, Matalan and GE Capital.
