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Jun 8, 2010
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Tesco chief to retire after 14 years at top

By
AFP
Published
Jun 8, 2010

LONDON — Tesco said on Tuesday 8 June that its long-serving chief executive Terry Leahy would retire next March after transforming the supermarket group into Britain's biggest retailer and a global force.


Photo: AFP

Leahy, who turned Tesco from a solid British food retailer into a worldwide operation also selling electrical items, clothes and financial products, will be replaced by its head of Asian, European and IT operations Philip Clarke.

"Sir Terry Leahy has decided, after an outstanding career at Tesco, to retire in March 2011 at the age of 55 after 14 years as CEO," a company statement said.

"The Tesco Board has moved to implement its long-term succession plan, with Philip Clarke succeeding Sir Terry."

Following Tuesday 8 June's announcement, Tesco's share price was one of the biggest fallers on London's benchmark FTSE 100 index -- shedding 2.63 percent to 396.41 pence in midday deals.

"The market was taken a little by surprise (by Leahy's announcement), but investors were reassured that the success of Tesco is broad based, and that if the hand over to Philip Clarke can be a smooth one, then concerns should be allayed," said Giles Watts, Head of Equities at City Index.

Leahy, who joined the company in 1979 and became chief executive 18 years later, said he felt his task of transforming Tesco was "almost complete".

He said in the statement: "When I became CEO I had a plan to build Tesco around its customers, to make it number one 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."

Leahy said he would "concentrate mainly on private investment" following his retirement from Tesco.

"I will, of course, keep a large shareholding in Tesco and remain its biggest supporter," he added.

Tesco chairman David Reid described Leahy as "undoubtedly one of the leading businessmen of his generation" who "has put in place a strategy which can secure the progress of Tesco for years to come".

Clarke has meanwhile worked at Tesco since 1974, when he joined as a part-time assistant while still at school. After studying economics at Liverpool university, he joined the supermarket's management training scheme.

The 50 year-old joined the Tesco board in 1998 and in recent years helped oversee Tesco's expansion into China, India and Turkey.

"I am honoured and delighted to succeed Terry who has taught me so much," Clarke said in the company statement.

"I am very excited by the opportunity to lead such a fantastic team of executives, many of whom I've worked with for years. Together we will build a global business which focuses on the customer and fully respects our people, our communities, our supply chain and our shareholders," he added.

Tesco also announced that it had hired its first chief executive of Asia, appointing UK retail and logistics director David Potts to the role.

Tesco recently unveiled soaring annual net profits, aided by a strong performance in Asia, and said it would create 16,000 jobs after emerging strongly from Britain's recession that ended last year.

Net profits jumped by 9.3 percent to 2.327 billion pounds in the 12 months to the end of February. Tesco employs more than 460,000 people in 14 countries around the world.

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