The Asda family tree

Every big retail dynasty has its father figures. And while Asda may not have developed as a family business, Archie Norman and Allan Leighton can take a lot of the credit for the business that it has turned into under Walmart’s ownership today.

But the impact of what they created at Asda House goes far beyond Asda itself. They created a generation of the UK’s most talented retailers, some of whom, like Richard Baker and Justin King, made their names elsewhere, and others, like Andy Bond, who made it to the top staying at Asda. And while Norman and Leighton are long gone, Asda’s reputation as retail’s leading finishing school continues.

There are bigger retailers out there, and there are those with a longer heritage, but Asda has had a unique position as the one that many big names in retail either have on their CV or are connected to. So how do they all link up?

Take the Marks & Spencer connection as an example. George Davies, albeit with an existing retail pedigree, used the success of George at Asda as a platform for his move to M&S to set up Per Una. But he is not the only ex-Asda face to have made the move to M&S. M&S marketing boss Steven Sharp

was Asda’s marketing director between 1987 and 1989. And clothing supremo Kate Bostock has also made the

move south after a stint as the design director of George at Asda between 2001 and 2004.

If Asda is a school, then George at Asda is the sixth form. Aside from Bostock, other names to have George on their CV include Boots’ Andy Hornby and, more recently, Fat Face chief executive Anthony Thompson.

Some connections go further than just working together. Andy Bond, at Asda between 1994 and 2010, and who is still chairman, is connected to new Asda boss Andy Clarke not just by their jobs, but also as they went to the same school. Finance director Judith McKenna and ex-Asda man Phil Dutton - who went on to be finance director of Matalan - are married.

Leighton’s early career as a graduate recruit at Mars gives him a shared background with Walmart Canada’s David Cheesewright, Co-op non-executive Penny Coates and ex-Boots boss Richard Baker. Another is Justin King, who went on to Asda, and now heads a senior team at Sainsbury’s with three Asda alumni: Mike Coupe, Gwyn Burr and Roger Burnley.

Another complex link involves Tony Campbell. He was one of Norman and Leighton’s team that was responsible for turning around Asda in the 1990s, including recruiting Angela Spindler in 1997. Now Spindler heads up The Original Factory Shop, which this year appointed Campbell as a non-executive director. Serial chairman Campbell - who also chairs Hobbs, TM Lewin and The White Company - also crossed paths with Justin King, having been involved in the bid by the Qatari sovereign wealth fund for Sainsbury’s.

Meanwhile Morrisons connects to Asda due to the personal and professional friendship between Leighton and Ken Morrison. Now Morrisons is being run by Dalton Philips, previously of Walmart Germany and Loblaw where Leighton was his mentor. Philips also worked at Walmart Germany with Halfords chief executive David Wild.

Tesco, the main competitor to Asda, has also shared a number of its staff. Darren Blackhurst and Paul Mancey both made the jump from Tesco to Asda, while Specsavers chief information officer John Lister previously made the move the other way.

The reach of Asda goes further than these shores. Coles in Australia has benefited significantly from the talent it has taken from the UK. Under Ian Macleod, not only has ex-Asda operations man Stuart Machin been persuaded out there, but a raft of more junior recruits.