Chairman of The Co-op, Former Chairman of The Royal Mail, Former CEO of Asda & Best-Selling Business Author of ‘On Leadership’

Allan Leighton has been described as the best connected man in the business world.

Asda:
Allan started his career in Mars Confectionery as a Salesman in 1974. He worked his way up through the company before leaving in 1991. Allan 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 1996. There he was credited with turning around what he once described as “a basket case” into a highly successful company. It was later sold to US retail giant Wal-Mart for 6.7 billion pounds in 1999. In November 1999 Allan Leighton also 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-exec. positions in a string of high profile companies.

Royal Mail:
Allan joined the Royal Mail as company Chairman in 2002. Whilst in the post he also drove a period of modernisation that transformed Royal Mail from loss making into a very profitable business. He stepped down from his role in March 2009, making him the Royal Mail’s longest serving chairman.

The Co-op:
Allan is currently the Chairman of The Co-operative Group, a position he started in 2015. He is also a board member and former Chairman of Entertainment One Ltd. Also, former Chairman of Wagamama and current Non Executive Chairman of the testing and certification company, Element Ltd.

He has and continues to hold a number of high profile posts from being Deputy Chairman of Selfridges & Co, and Non Executive Director of BSkyB Group plc. He was on the board of Dyson and was a non-executive director of lastminute.com.

Allan still spends time in Canada. It was there he advised George Weston Ltd. He was also a former President of Loblaw Companies Ltd (Canada’s largest Food retailer)

Books:
Allan_Leighton_book1WAllan Leighton’s book, On Leadership 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”.

His second book was released in 2011 “Tough Calls: Making the right decisions in difficult times“.

Why Hire Allan Leighton?