Chief executive, Alliance Boots

Hornby has returned to retail as chief executive of health and beauty giant Alliance Boots.

Having had his reputation scarred by his previous position as chief executive of HBOS during the bailout of the banks, Hornby has been handed the chance to restore his credibility under Boots executive chairman Stefano Pessina (11).

Hornby is well respected in retail, and is another of the Asda alumini to graduate under Allan Leighton to pick up a top retail job.

He has kept his head down, not personally taking the credit for Alliance achieving £1bn profits

in May.

Brought in for his strategic skills, Hornby will be assisting Pessina over the next 12 months in his plans for global expansion. Big deals are brewing for the group with the US, Latin America and China all key markets where Hornby could earn his stripes.

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