Progressive chief to retire

Peter Smith. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The boss of supermarket giant Progressive Enterprises - the owner of the Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown chains - is to retire after 37 years in the retail industry.

Peter Smith, 54, will step down in July after four years with Progressive and 37 years working for Australian company Woolworths, which owns Progressive.

He began working for the company in 1974 as a trainee in Perth.

Smith will be replaced by Dave Chambers, general manager of supermarket operations.

The 47-year-old Chambers will move to the role of chief operating officer on March 7 before moving up to the managing director's role in July. Chambers has been with Progressive for 31 years.