Ocado chair searched for new CEO without telling founder Tim Steiner

Ocado chair Adam Warby, in post since 2024, began searching for a new chief executive without consulting co-founder and CEO Tim Steiner, The Guardian reported on July 16, 2026. Steiner said he had "no intention of being a puppet master" and was "not standing in the way" of hiring a successor. He declined to say whether he and Warby could continue working together. The rift surfaced as shares hit a decade-low and pre-tax profits fell from £607m to £17m.