Sir Terry Leahy, 52, was appointed Chief Executive of Tesco PLC in March 1997. He received a Knighthood for services to food retailing in the 2002 New Year Honors.

 

Born on February 28, 1956, he was educated at St Edwards College in Liverpool and then went on to the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology where he gained his BSc (Hons) in management sciences.

 

Terry joined Tesco in 1979 as a Marketing Executive and was promoted to Marketing Manager in 1981. From 1984 to 1986 he held the position of Marketing Director for Tesco Stores Ltd. He was appointed Commercial Director of Fresh Foods in 1986. Terry was appointed to the Board of Tesco PLC as Marketing Director in 1992 and, in February 1995, was appointed Deputy Managing Director.

 

He is a Director on the Liverpool Vision Regeneration Board, and a member of the Prime Minister's Business Council.

 

In March 2008, he was nominated by Retail Week as Retail Leader of the Year. In 2005 and 2006 he was voted as Britain's Most Admired Leader by Management Today and in 2004 he was named European Businessman of the year by Fortune magazine.

 

Married with three children, Terry enjoys sports, reading, theatre and architecture in his spare time.