Bill Grimsey
Best known for:
Bill is best known for being the CEO of Wickes, Focus, and Iceland.
Summary:
Bill served as CEO at Wickes, Focus and Iceland. He's since become a consultant and author, looking at what has happened in Britain's high street and what's next for retailers.
Biography:
Bill Grimsey began his retail career at the age of just 15 years old when he became a butcher’s boy. His first managerial job was at Bishops Food Stores, where he rose to become a director, before joining Tesco in 1986 in the new role of customer services director.
In a varied and full retail career, Bill Grimsey went on to be chief executive of store groups both in the UK and abroad in South Africa and Hong Kong and has earned a reputation as a turnaround specialist. He gained particular attention for masterminding the recovery of DIY group Wickes, which had been at the centre of an accounting scandal that resulted in the suspension of its share price and the banks foreclosing.
Another of these recovery roles was during Bill Grimsey’s five years at the helm of Iceland, which was renamed the Big Food Group, and was later bought out by Icelandic investors Baugur Group. Most recently, he worked with private equity backers heading the Focus DIY chain. Bill Grimsey is an experienced public speaker.
Fee range:
Please Enquire