Press Release
07 Jun 2007 - Cranfield honours Tesco boss
Tesco Chief Executive, Sir Terry Leahy, has been honoured with a Doctor of Science (DSc) from Cranfield University, the UK’s premier postgraduate research University.
Professor Sir John O’ Reilly, Vice Chancellor of the University said, “We are delighted to recognise this year as honorary graduand an exceptional individual whose achievements have contributed so much to the business community.”
Sir Terry, highly regarded for successfully leading the transformation of Tesco from an ordinary food retailer into an international giant received a Knighthood for services to food retailing in the 2002 New Year Honours. He is a Director on the Liverpool Vision Regeneration Board, and Co-Chancellor of Manchester University.
He said,” It is a great honour and privilege to receive this award from this unique postgraduate University, which has long been internationally recognised for its expertise in business management.”
Born in Liverpool, Terry was educated at St Edwards College, Liverpool and then went on to the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology where he gained his BSc (Hons) in Management Sciences.
He joined Tesco in 1979 as a Marketing Trainee and was promoted to Marketing Manager in 1981. He held the position of Marketing Director for two four years before becoming Commercial Director of Fresh Foods in 1986. Appointed to the Board of Tesco plc as Marketing Director in 1992, he became Deputy Managing Director in February 1995 and Chief Executive in March 1997.
Under his leadership, Tesco introduced the first customer loyalty card in the country which now has well over 10 million members, the Tesco ‘Metro’ and Tesco ‘Express’ concept as well as increasing the range of products to include a wide range of clothing and other non-food items, financial services, catalogue and online shopping, and has moved the company significantly into overseas markets.
He was chosen as Britain’s Business Leader of the Year in 2003 and the Fortune European Businessman of the Year, also in 2003. In 2005 Management Today elected him as Britain’s most admired business leader.
ENDS
Further information
Cranfield University is one of Western Europe’s largest academic centres for strategic and applied research, development and design. It is unique in its entirely postgraduate focus. The university is made up of three campuses Cranfield, Silsoe and Shrivenham:
- Cranfield: Cranfield School of Management, School of Applied Sciences & School of Engineering.
- Silsoe: Cranfield Health. (Note: Silsoe’s current Environmental Courses are now operated via School of Applied Sciences on the Cranfield Campus and will be taught entirely at Cranfield from October 2006. Health will relocate over the coming 18 to 24 months).
- Shrivenham: The Defence College of Management and Technology.
For further information please contact: Ray Barrowdale, Press Office Manager, tel: +44(0)1234 752988
Press Office – Marketing Services
Building 45
Cranfield University
Cranfield
Bedfordshire
MK43 0AL
Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754999
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 754990
Email: pressoffice@cranfield.ac.uk
Website: www.cranfield.ac.uk
Press release number: PR-40-07-GRAD-SOM
