Helen Selby, Asda

Walmart-owned U.K. supermarket giant Asda has appointed Helen Selby as its new general counsel, following the departure of Alexander Simpson in September 2019.

Selby joins from Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.K. where she was hired as its inaugural general counsel in March 2019 following the company's integration of Mars Chocolate and Wrigley.

She has worked primarily in food retail manufacturing and grocery, having previously acted as general counsel and company secretary at Hovis as well as senior legal counsel at Premier Foods.

Selby also worked as a lawyer at Pinsent Masons for one year in 2007, according to LinkedIn.

The hire follows the exit of Simpson late last year, who left Asda after nearly nine years to join Amazon. Although Amazon confirmed the appointment, it declined to comment on what role he would be taking on.

In 2018, Asda turned to Slaughter and May in its failed merger with Sainsbury's which, if successful, would have created a company worth more than £10 billion.