As first reported by sister title The Grocer, Chitnis will be replaced on an interim basis by George Dean, who is currently the director of commercial development at Ocado.
Ocado confirmed the departure of Chitnis when approached by Food Manufacture but did not provide any details about the transition period.
Chitnis joined Ocado in December 2023 after 10 years at Tesco, where he most recently served as UK grocery director.
During his time with Tesco, he worked as director of trading at subsidiary Booker Wholesale for more than two years.
Ocado Retail CEO Hannah Gibson alerted suppliers about the change earlier this week, before telling The Grocer that the promotion of Dean would “ensure a seamless leadership transition”.
“He brings a wealth of commercial experience and strong, strategic leadership,” added Gibson.
Reacting to the news, growth director at ESA Retail Kirk Brazier praised Chitnis for his work with Ocado, before suggesting that his departure may have been the result of a misalignment between him and the wider strategy.
“Amit Chitnis played a key role in reshaping Ocado’s supplier strategy and championing emerging brands – moves aligned with broader industry shifts toward differentiated, margin-friendly offerings," Brazier told Food Manufacture.
“His relatively short tenure suggests potential strategic misalignment or just the pressures of operating in a capital-intensive, low-margin environment.
“For the sector, this exit reflects ongoing volatility in leadership at digital-first grocers as they navigate cost inflation, tightening credit, and changing consumer behaviour post-pandemic – more than ever, the customer experience will be key for Ocado customers in an ever competitive market. The next step for Ocado will be closely watched, not just for their direction, but as a signal of how online supermarkets plan to balance growth with profitability in an increasingly scrutinised and competitive market.”
The news comes at the same time that Ocado announced a 13.2% year-on-year increase in revenue during the six months to 1 June.
