Terry Leahy

In his fourteen years as CEO of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy not only turned the company into the largest supermarket chain in the UK but also transformed it into a global enterprise. As a result, Leahy is now one of the world's most admired business leaders, widely acclaimed for his drive, flair and no-nonsense approach.

In his first book, "Management in Ten Words,” Leahy shares 10 essential management lessons that emerged from his intensive turnaround of the company. The book draws on his experience and expertise to pinpoint the ten vital attributes that make successful managers and underlie great organizations.

Leahy is in high demand on the speaking circuit, and his countless speeches on management have garnered standing ovations and critical acclaim. He stresses that effective leadership does matter in the success of an organization and believes a truly effective leader is defined by what they influence others to achieve. He explains -- and exemplifies -- that a good leader takes individuals further than they would go on their own, and he directs managers to pass this idea along to their own employees, encouraging them to become leaders too.

In 2008, Leahy was nominated by Retail Week as Retail Leader of the Year. From 2005 to 2010, 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. In 2010, he received the Daily Telegraph’s Award for a Decade of Excellence in Business, a Lifetime Achievement award from Director magazine and was voted Business Person of the Year by the Sunday Times. In 2011, Leahy received two awards from Retail Week: the Lifetime Achievement Award and Retail Leader of the Year.

After retiring from Tesco in 2011, Leahy was appointed the chairman of the board of B&M Retail. He is a senior adviser to CD&R, and director of Blackcircles.com.

Leahy 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 in management sciences. Married with three children, Leahy enjoys sports, reading, theatre and architecture. He also serves as Director of the Liverpool Enterprise Partnership.