Tesco loses second head in a week as HR director Judith Nelson quits

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Supermarket giant Tesco plans to cut the sugar content of its soft drinks by five per cent every year, in what campaigners described as the first 'major sugar reduction programme' of any retailer (Getty)

Tesco has lost another senior director, the second to quit in a week, the Independent has learned.

Judith Nelson, the supermarket's HR director for the UK and responsible for the largest private sector workforce in the country, quit with staff informed yesterday by chief people officer Alison Horner, according to sources.

It follows executive Jill Easterbrook, who told staff she was leaving on Monday less than a year into her latest role as head of business transformation. She had been a key lieutenant for chief executive Dave Lewis and a close confidant of former boss Phil Clarke.

She was responsible for overseeing 300,000 employees in staff and warehouses across the country and was a board member of the company's UK executive team.

Nelson has been with Tesco since she was a teenager, joining as a graduate trainee, despite not having a degree. She worked her way up through the ranks and ran HR departments overseas for several years during the expansionist days under Sir Terry Leahy.

In 2011 Nelson came back to the UK to head up the HR department and was appointed to the operational board by then Tesco UK boss Richard Brasher.

A spokesperson said: "After 22 years at the company, UK and ROI People Director, Judith Nelson has decided to develop her career outside of Tesco. Judith has been a core member of the team for many years and we'd like to thank her for her valuable contribution."

He added that Nelson will be replaced by business support director Natasha Adams.

Tesco shares hit an 18 year low this week, with investors starting to question whether the turnaround is working.