People on the move in the food and drink industry
Higginson will initially join the troubled retailer on October 1 2014 as non-executive deputy chairman and chairman elect.
He stood down from his role as chairman of discount retailer Poundland in preparation for joining Morrisons in the autumn.
He is also currently chairman of the N Brown Group and senior independent director of BSkyB.
Higginson started his career at Unilever and held executive positions at Guinness Brewing, Laura Ashley and Burton Group.
In 1997 he moved to Tesco, initially as finance director before adding responsibility for group strategy and becoming chairman of Tesco personal finance in 2004.
In 2008 he was appointed ceo of Tesco’s retailing service business, before leaving the business in 2012.
He said: “Whilst there are undoubted challenges in the industry at the moment, this is a fine business and I am looking forward to working with the great team at Morrisons who work hard every day to serve customer.”
Gibson, who held the chairman role since 2008, said Higginson’s “tremendous reputation” would make him a “huge asset” to the business.
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