Food Retailing / Supermarkets

Tesco’s Sir Terry Leahy to Retire

Spent 14 years as ceo

Published

14 years ago

June 8, 2010

VMSD Staff

Tesco’s ceo Sir Terry Leahy announced he will be leaving the company, according to The Times (London). He will be replaced next March by Philip Clarke, who heads the company’s international operations.

Sir Terry, who will be 55 when he retires, told The Times: “When I became ceo I had a plan to build Tesco around its customers, to make it No. 1 in the UK and to find new long-term growth in non-food, in services and in international expansion. I wanted to develop a purpose and values that could sustain Tesco through its challenges and encourage and grow future leaders.

“It has taken 14 years but that strategy has become a firm reality now and so I feel my work is almost complete,” he says.
Clarke began his career as a part-time assistant with Tesco in 1974.

The company, which was founded in 1919, operates more than 4800 stores across the globe.

MasterClass: ‘Re-Sparkling’ Retail: Using Store Design to Build Trust, Faith and Brand Loyalty

HOW CAN WE EMPOWER and inspire senior leaders to see design as an investment for future retail growth? This session, led by retail design expert Ian Johnston from Quinine Design, explores how physical stores remain unmatched in the ability to build trust, faith, and loyalty with your customers, ultimately driving shareholder value.

Presented by:
Ian Johnston
Founder and Creative Director, Quinine Design