Ben Wishart

Ben WishartPhoto: Whitbread

Ben Wishart, formerly COO International and group CIO of hospitality company Whitbread, has joined retail giant Morrisons.

Wishart, who left his post at Whitbread earlier this year, joined Morrisons on earlier this month as evolve programme director. Morrisons said he will be reporting to company finance director Richard Pennycook.

Wishart, who last year was voted the third most influential CIO in the UK in the silicon.com CIO50 list of the UK’s top IT chiefs, joins a Morrisons technology team that includes IT director Gary Barr.

Barr was also voted one of the top 50 UK CIOs in this year’s silicon.com CIO50.

In related CIO news, Nic Bellenberg – another top of this year’s silicon.com CIO50 top 50 CIOs – has left publisher Hachette Filipacchi UK.

This follows Hachette Filipacchi UK’s acquisition by publishing giant Hearst Corporation. Hachette Filipacchi UK has been merged with The National Magazine Company and the pair have been rebranded Hearst Magazines UK.