Goodbye and thank you to Co-op CEO
Lincolnshire Co-op’s Chief Executive Officer Ursula Lidbetter will retire at the end of this
month after 18 years heading up the community retailer.
Ursula has worked for the society for 37 years, starting as a buyer and department manager.
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Hide AdShe became CEO in 2004. Since then, the number of dividend card holders has more than
doubled from 142,000 to 300,000 and turnover has gone from £237m to £399m.
Community projects have been a focus during her tenure including running a network of 74
volunteer-led Wellbeing Walks, taking on three community libraries, and the founding of the
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Hide Adsociety’s fundraising scheme - Community Champions – which links members directly to local
good causes in their area and has raised more than £4.2m since it started in 2013.
Lincolnshire Co-op has led major property developments including The Cornhill Quarter in
Lincoln city centre and the creation of Lincoln Science and Innovation Park.
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Hide AdUrsula was awarded the OBE in 2019 for services to the local economy. She has held roles
over the years including Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership
(LEP), Chair of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Chair of Lincoln BIG.
Lincolnshire Co-op held a reception for Ursula at Charlotte House Hotel in Lincoln in early
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Hide AdDecember, giving representatives from business, local government, the co-operative sector and
beyond the chance to say thank you and wish her well in retirement.
Audience members heard from Chief Executive of Greater Lincolnshire LEP Ruth Carver
and charity Pilotlight Chief Executive Ed Mayo, who was the former Secretary General of
Co-ops UK.
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Hide AdRuth thanked Ursula for displaying such a passion for the area, and paid tribute to her as a
‘unifying force’ in the business community, with a great sense of community and place.
Ed said: “Lincolnshire Co-op is by any measure a world class co-operative and its success over
time is down to effective governance and sustained leadership.
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Hide Ad2“Ursula has lived up to every best hope one could have for a co-operative business leader - I
and others who have worked with her have been lucky to know her.”
Ursula attended her last Lincolnshire Co-op annual members’ meeting at the Lincolnshire
Showground’s Epic Centre in early December, watched by an audience of 1,033 people in
person and online.
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Hide AdLincolnshire Co-op’s Board Chair David Cowell said: “Ursula will be very greatly missed by
colleagues, members, Board members and by the co-operative family more generally. I would
personally like to pay tribute to her for the leadership that she has provided within the business
and the wider contribution she has made to the co-operative sector.”
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Hide AdUrsula said her career with Lincolnshire Co-op had been ‘fascinating’ and she was proud of the
society’s achievements during her tenure. “Our aim is to be helpful, inspiring and trustworthy. I have always endeavoured to live up to
those three words and I thank our members and colleagues for believing in these things too.
“So much as changed both since Lincolnshire Co-op was founded in 1861 and since I started
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Hide Adwith the society 37 years ago. But our core purpose remains the same – to make life better in
our communities. We’re doing that every day in our outlets, through our community work, our
developments and with the help of our many partners.
“I’m privileged to have been in a position to lead this extraordinary organisation and I know that
this good and important work will continue, thanks to the first-class team we have in place and
the support of our members and customers.”
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Hide AdLincolnshire Co-op’s new CEO Alison Hands – currently the MD at Wilko – will start in April
2023.
Until then, Chief Financial Officer Steve Galjaard, who has been with Lincolnshire Co-op for
21 years, will become Acting Chief Executive Officer alongside his current role, ensuring a
smooth transition for the society’s 2,900 colleagues.