Ian McLeod
Course: BA (Hons) Business Studies '81
Current Position: Managing Director of Coles Supermarkets, Australia.
Ian joined Coles as Managing Director in May 2008 and oversees the Coles Supermarkets, Liquor and Convenience businesses. He is in charge of 106,000 employees including 700 managers.
Prior to this, Ian was Chief Executive Officer of Halfords Group Plc: the UK's leading retailer of car parts, leisure and cycling products. Between 2000 and 2001, Ian was on the Executive Board of Wal-Mart Germany as Chief Merchandise Officer and prior to that was the Managing Director of Asda's largest operating division with direct responsibility for over 40 superstores and 20,000 employees. His performance here was judged to be the strongest in the company.
Prior to the Wal-Mart takeover in June 1999 Ian held various senior roles and Asda Management Board positions including Productivity Director, Trading Director for Ambient Grocery (the company's biggest trading division) and Trading Director for Bakery, Frozen Food, Dairy, and in-store restaurants. He was one of only two Asda managers promoted to this level after Archie Norman took over as Asda CEO.
Following the Victoria bushfires of 2009 he personally signed off on Coles donating A$10M to the relief fund to help the victims of the fire which was the largest donation by an Australian company.
Outside of his experience in retail, Ian also spent two years as CEO of Celtic Plc, the listed company controlling Celtic Football Club and has also added Melbourne Victory to his list of directorships. Ian also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1999.
Ian McLeod is nominated for his business leadership and outstanding success in the retail industry
