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Co-op boss Euan Sutherland offers his resignation Co-op Group accepts resignation of Euan Sutherland
(35 minutes later)
Co-op Group chief executive Euan Sutherland has offered his resignation, the BBC's Robert Peston has learned. The Co-operative Group said it has accepted Euan Sutherland's resignation as chief executive, and that chief financial officer Richard Pennycook will act as interim boss.
Mr Sutherland says in the letter he believes the group is "ungovernable" under its current structure. But the Co-op board may still have 48 hours to persuade him to change his mind, according to BBC business editor Robert Peston.
To persuade him to stay, the board has agreed to restructure so it can be managed in a more conventional way. This will depend on whether the regional boards of the group back a radical reform of its structure.
However, that reform has to be agreed by Co-op's members and their elected representatives A reform would see the board changed.
A public company-style board would be set-up with five professional non-executives and two executives.
The elected Co-op board members would not be on that management board, but would have a new parallel board.
Mr Peston said: "The elected Co-op officials on these boards may come round to these massive structural changes over time. But there is very little chance of them agreeing the reform in time for the annual meeting in May."
He said he thought Mr Sutherland's departure will not be reversed.
Mr Sutherland wrote a letter to Co-op Group's chairman, Ursula Lidbetter, saying he believes the group is "ungovernable" under its current structure.
'Transformation''Transformation'
Mr Sutherland's resignation offer comes after reports suggested the group was recommending he should get a remuneration package worth £3.66m for 2013. His resignation offer comes after reports suggested the group was recommending he should get a remuneration package worth £3.66m for 2013.
After the revelations over executive salaries, Mr Sutherland said on the Co-op's Facebook page there seemed to be "an individual, or individuals, determined to undermine me personally", but said he was "determined" to see through "the vital transformation of our business".After the revelations over executive salaries, Mr Sutherland said on the Co-op's Facebook page there seemed to be "an individual, or individuals, determined to undermine me personally", but said he was "determined" to see through "the vital transformation of our business".
He added: "We appear to have disaffected people who are determined to make life difficult and embarrassing for the Co-operative at a time when what we need most are professionalism and loyalty to the business."He added: "We appear to have disaffected people who are determined to make life difficult and embarrassing for the Co-operative at a time when what we need most are professionalism and loyalty to the business."
Mr Sutherland, who joined last May, said last month that 2013 had been "perhaps the worst year" in the Co-op's long history and it had "lost its way".Mr Sutherland, who joined last May, said last month that 2013 had been "perhaps the worst year" in the Co-op's long history and it had "lost its way".
It followed a year of financial problems in its banking division and the scandal involving the division's former chairman Paul Flowers, who was arrested for alleged drug offences.It followed a year of financial problems in its banking division and the scandal involving the division's former chairman Paul Flowers, who was arrested for alleged drug offences.
'Mutual movement''Mutual movement'
Mr Sutherland is thought to be "demoralised and fed-up", according to the BBC's business editor.Mr Sutherland is thought to be "demoralised and fed-up", according to the BBC's business editor.
The resignation letter is broadly a "back-me-or-sack-me move" but he "still may well resign", the BBC understands.The resignation letter is broadly a "back-me-or-sack-me move" but he "still may well resign", the BBC understands.
Meg Hillier, Labour and Co-operative MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she was "shocked" Mr Sutherland was offering his resignation.Meg Hillier, Labour and Co-operative MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she was "shocked" Mr Sutherland was offering his resignation.
"He is running an organisation that is still run by its members, and he needs to be accountable to them. The Co-operative movement is a mutual movement where we make decisions together," she said."He is running an organisation that is still run by its members, and he needs to be accountable to them. The Co-operative movement is a mutual movement where we make decisions together," she said.
'Good professional''Good professional'
Lord Levene, who headed a rival bid for Lloyds TSB branches in competition with the Co-op Bank, told the BBC that Mr Sutherland's resignation offer seemed to be part of a "never ending" series of misfortunes for the group.Lord Levene, who headed a rival bid for Lloyds TSB branches in competition with the Co-op Bank, told the BBC that Mr Sutherland's resignation offer seemed to be part of a "never ending" series of misfortunes for the group.
"They got in a good professional to run the place, and it seems he looked, and decided it wasn't for him," Lord Levene said."They got in a good professional to run the place, and it seems he looked, and decided it wasn't for him," Lord Levene said.
Co-op Bank was rescued last year under a deal with its bondholders after it emerged that it faced a £1.5bn black hole.Co-op Bank was rescued last year under a deal with its bondholders after it emerged that it faced a £1.5bn black hole.
That black hole caused the bank's proposed takeover of more than 600 Lloyds TSB branches to fall through.That black hole caused the bank's proposed takeover of more than 600 Lloyds TSB branches to fall through.
Later that year the company was hit by a fresh scandal when Mr Flowers was arrested in connection with a drug supply investigation. He remains on police bail.Later that year the company was hit by a fresh scandal when Mr Flowers was arrested in connection with a drug supply investigation. He remains on police bail.
The Co-op last month launched a nationwide poll - open until 24 March - to ask people for their views on its future.The Co-op last month launched a nationwide poll - open until 24 March - to ask people for their views on its future.
The results will be published at the group's annual meeting in May.The results will be published at the group's annual meeting in May.
'Clash of cultures''Clash of cultures'
Mr Sutherland's resignation offer may have come about due to disagreements at board level on the direction the Co-operative Group should be taking, John Thanassoulis, professor of financial economics at Warwick Business School, told the BBC.Mr Sutherland's resignation offer may have come about due to disagreements at board level on the direction the Co-operative Group should be taking, John Thanassoulis, professor of financial economics at Warwick Business School, told the BBC.
"This is a comment on how viable the Co-operative Group's business model is - can it survive or does it not work?," the banking governance expert said. "I see this as a fascinating clash of cultures.""This is a comment on how viable the Co-operative Group's business model is - can it survive or does it not work?," the banking governance expert said. "I see this as a fascinating clash of cultures."
Mr Sutherland was seeking to evolve the business in a way that would have resulted in job losses, the sale of co-operative farms, and the possible sale of the co-operative pharmacy business, Prof Thanassoulis said.Mr Sutherland was seeking to evolve the business in a way that would have resulted in job losses, the sale of co-operative farms, and the possible sale of the co-operative pharmacy business, Prof Thanassoulis said.
Members may have seen this as being against the ethical business model of the group, and resisted such changes, he added.Members may have seen this as being against the ethical business model of the group, and resisted such changes, he added.