Our Members

Debbie is a passionate retailer with over 50 years’ experience working in the retail sector. She is a firm believer in co-operative ethics and values and was appointed as Chief Executive of Central Co-op in April 2019, one of the largest co-operatives in the UK. Debbie is also a Board member of the British Retail Consortium, Vice-President of Euro Coops and a member of the advisory panel at Diversity in Retail and Pennies micro-donation charity.
Prior to taking on the role at Central Co-op, Debbie was the UK Managing Director at SPAR. She has also worked at The Co-operative Group, Marks and Spencer and W H Smith.
Debbie is a great advocate in all aspects of inclusion. She is also a champion of sustainability and a pioneer for Fairtrade. Debbie has developed higher standards of animal welfare in the food industry and has implemented improvements in diet and health including food pack nutritional information. She was heavily involved in recent campaigning resulting in a change to the law to better protect retail workers and instigated the launch of a Co-operative International Development Fund to help move global communities out of poverty.

Debbie is a mother, grandmother, partner, daughter, sister and auntie who has run a few marathons and for the last nine years, taken part in charity bike rides in support of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), an industry recognised charity in support of landmine detection and removal in communities affected by war.

Debbie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for her outstanding contribution to business by the University of Birmingham in July 2022.