A YORK man is to become one of the top decision-makers for supermarket chain Sainsbury.

Stuart Mitchell, 40, assistant managing director with Sainsbury Supermarkets, has been appointed an executive director on the group board from January 1.

His brief will include helping to shape policy for the group's supermarkets, property and financial divisions.

Mr Mitchell, from Appleton Roebuck, is a former pupil of Tadcaster Grammar School and a graduate of Manchester University. His career with Sainsbury began in 1984 as a graduate trainee buyer. He gained three years' experience in retail, managed both the meat and produce trading offices, worked for Shaw's, Sainsbury U.S. supermarket business, and held four senior Sainsburys roles in the UK - in procurement, primary agriculture, non foods and strategy.

Along the way he twice attended Harvard Business School, first in 1998, majoring in agribusiness ,and then last year when he studied "leadership in the 21st century."

He was appointed assistant managing director of Sainsbury Supermarkets in July with responsibilities for trading, retail and the supply chain.

Mr Mitchell's board appointment was welcomed by Sir Peter Davis, group chief executive, who praised him for his "wealth of retail and trading experience."

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, December 19, 2001