Allan Leighton
Leighton is one of the most experienced and best-connected people in the City, having run Asda and chaired the Royal Mail
There are few business leaders in Britain today that come as widely respected as Allan Leighton. From transforming the £500m company ASDA to one sold to US giant Wal-Mart for £6.2bn in 1999 through to his next role turning around the fortunes of the loss making Royal Mail, or from his non-executive director and chairman roles at BSkyB, Lastminute.com and Selfridges through to advisory roles with Sir Philip Green, Sir James Dyson and EMI buyer Guy Hands, Leighton has taken on and succeeded in some of the toughest jobs in the UK.
Allan started his career in Mars Confectionery as a Salesman in 1974. He worked his way up through the company before leaving in 1991. He then joined Pedigree Petfoods, where he was Sales Director until his appointment in 1992 to Asda Stores Ltd. He began his career in Asda as Group Marketing Director and was appointed Chief Executive in September 1996. There he was credited with turning around what he once described as a basket case into a highly successful company that was sold to US retail giant Wal-Mart for £6.7 billion in 1999.
In November 1999 Allan became the President and CEO of
Wal-Mart Europe.
In November 2000 he left Asda and developed a new work ethic – ‘Going Plural’ – as he took on non-executive positions in a string of companies including lastminute.com, Leeds United, Bhs, BSkyB and Selfridges.
Until mid 2011 Allan was based in Canada acting as President for the retail chain Loblaw Companies Ltd, Deputy Chairman of Selfridges & Co, George Weston Ltd and Non Executive Director of BSkyB Group plc.
Allan is now the new Chairman of Pace, the set-top box maker.
Allan's book On Leadership: Practical Wisdom From The People Who Know was published by Random House. At publication, it was the best selling business book in the UK. World Business called it "a profoundly hopeful read – informed by the almost palpable joy Leighton feels in inspiring and leading others". Chris Blackhurst Business Editor of the Evening Standard said it was “The best management book I’ve read in a long while”.
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