Gordon Cruikshanks took up the role on 1 March, having previously served as Lidl NI’s sales operations director where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the sales team as well as wider growth and development opportunities.
He replaced Ivan Ryan, who has been promoted to the role of chief customer officer for Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Cruikshanks joined the discount retailer in 2005 as a trainee sales operations manager and has served in a variety of different roles in the intervening 20 years, including sales operations manager, regional property manager and sales operations director.
Over the past 12 months, Cruikshanks took part in a development programme with Lidl Germany, specialising in the logistics and supply chain areas of the business, while also developing German language skills at one of Lidl’s regional distribution centres in Frankfurt.
“I am delighted to take on the role of Regional Managing Director for Lidl Northern Ireland and support our ambitious expansion plans in the region,” he said.
“Having started my career with Lidl in 2005 and spent almost 20 years in roles across the business in Northern Ireland and internationally, my experience is a testament to the exceptional development opportunities Lidl has to offer as an employer.
“I now have the pleasure of leading the incredible local team here in Northern Ireland across our 43 stores and regional distribution centre in Nutts Corner and to maintain our focus on continued growth, offering more customers across the region the highest quality products at market-leading value in communities across Northern Ireland.”
Lidl opened Northern Ireland’s newest and largest store in Coleraine in February 2025 and has plans in place for additional store openings throughout the rest of this year.
The company employs more than 1,300 people across its 43 stores, and supports a further 6,900 jobs indirectly in Northern Ireland through its supply chain.
