Woolworths Group has named Sean Barrett as its next Chief Marketing Officer, with the former Albertsons Companies executive set to join the business in January 2026.
Barrett’s appointment follows a global search triggered by the departure of Andrew Hicks in June. Michael Laxton has acted as interim CMO for the past five months.
A global retail marketer steps into the role
Barrett joins Woolworths Group from US grocery giant Albertsons Companies, where he served as CMO for one of the largest food retailers in the country. Albertsons operates more than 2,300 stores across 34 states.
During his time at the company, Barrett led a major brand and marketing transformation that brought its portfolio together under a unified, customer-centric strategy.
He also oversaw performance marketing, customer data, Generative AI capability, and advanced ROI measurement.
Jane Danziger, Managing Director of CustomerX at Woolworths Group, said Barrett’s experience will play a central role in Woolworths Group’s long term marketing strategy.
“We are thrilled to bring a global retail leader of Sean’s calibre to Woolworths Group. His track record at Albertsons in unifying brands around the customer and building a data-led marketing function will be critical as we continue to deliver differentiated value and convenience for our customers in an increasingly competitive market.
“I also want to extend our thanks to Michael Laxton who has done an excellent job stepping in as Interim CMO for the past five months and has guided the team through a significant period of change, while also setting our marketing function up for future success.”
Barrett prepares to join Woolworths Group in 2026
Barrett said he is looking forward to joining a retailer with strong brand recognition and national impact.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the incredible team at Woolies. Woolworths Group has iconic brands and passionate team members that touch the lives of millions of people every single day. I look forward to partnering with the team to deliver differentiated value for customers and accelerate growth into the future.”
The appointment comes at a time of heightened competition across the Australian supermarket sector and intensifying pressure on customer value, loyalty and digital experience.