Board, Board Committees and Executive Committee

Appointed September 2023

Skills and contribution 

Gerry has extensive global leadership experience through both executive and non-executive roles. His executive career was spent in retail and other customer-focused businesses in senior leadership and commercial roles. His significant business and board level experience and deep understanding of corporate governance, enable him to provide the Board with valuable leadership in the delivery of the Group’s strategic objectives.

Experience and past appointments 

Gerry started his career in the food and drinks sector and received his PhD in food technology. He has held chief executive roles at Greencore Group plc, Exel plc, Carlton Communications plc (now ITV plc) and Kingfisher plc and has served as a non-executive director of Intertrust N.V., British American Tobacco plc, Merlin Entertainments plc, Reckitt Benckiser plc, Abbey National plc and Novar plc. Gerry was previously chair of The Blackstone Group International Partners LLP and chair of Tate and Lyle PLC.

Current appointments

• Chair, Burberry Group plc
• Trustee, The Burberry Foundation
• Senior advisor, Perella Weinberg Partners
• Mentor, J&A Mentoring

Committee membership

• Nominations and Governance Committee (Chair)

Appointed October 2020

Skills and contribution 

Ken is a growth-orientated business leader with strong commercial, marketing and brand experience within retail and wholesale businesses. He has experience in global product brand management, product development, sales and marketing, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution.

Experience and past appointments 

Prior to joining Tesco, Ken worked for Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. for over 20 years in a number of senior management roles across the business. Through his roles as executive vice president, chief commercial officer and president of global brands at Walgreens Boots Alliance, Ken had overall responsibility for brand strategy and the commercial offer in the retail businesses of Walgreens and Boots. He previously worked for Procter & Gamble and Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC).

Current appointments

• None.

Appointed May 2021

Skills and contribution 

Imran has over 20 years’ experience in the global food industry and broad financial, strategic and international experience gained across a number of large multinational organisations. His financial, strategic, leadership and international strengths are a valuable asset to Tesco as we deliver on our strategic priorities.

Experience and past appointments 

Prior to joining Tesco, Imran was CFO of Tate & Lyle PLC and held a number of senior financial roles across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a career of over 16 years at Mondelēz International and Kraft Foods. He started his career with Deloitte and Philip Morris in corporate audit.

Current appointments

• None.

Appointed September 2023

Skills and contribution 

Carolyn brings a wealth of experience to the Board with her deep understanding of the macroeconomic, regulatory and political environment and significant experience across the media, government and finance sectors.

Experience and past appointments 

Carolyn served as the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry from 2015 to 2020. She has been a non-executive director of Lloyds Banking Group plc, The Vitec Group plc, Capita plc and BAE Systems plc. She has also served as a non-executive director of the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the Financial Services Authority and as a trustee of Marie Curie. Carolyn held senior executive positions at the BBC and ITV, was a partner at McKinsey & Co specialising in digital and media and was a member of Prime Minister John Major's Number 10 Policy Unit.

Current appointments

• Non-executive director of HSBC Holdings plc
• Chair of the board of trustees of Royal Mencap Society 
• Honorary fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and of Nuffield College, Oxford

Committee membership

• Audit Committee 
• Nominations and Governance Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Sustainability Committee

Appointed September 2018

Skills and contribution 

Melissa’s wealth of international corporate, strategy and financial experience across a range of industries, with a focus on private equity, advisory services, strategic consultancy and the financial, media and technology sectors, is invaluable in delivering our strategy. Experience and past appointments.

Melissa is a senior advisor to Atairos, an equity investment fund backed by Comcast NBC Universal. Melissa was previously managing partner of Atairos Europe and managing director of Bain Capital, where she was a member of the senior leadership team responsible for strategy setting, fundraising and portfolio management. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Melissa worked in the capital markets group at Goldman Sachs & Co., with a particular focus on media and technology. She was also previously a director of Ship Midco Limited and served as a non-executive director of Samsonite International S.A., Worldpay Group PLC and Atento S.A.

Current appointments

• Non-executive director of Diageo PLC
• Non-executive director of Exor N.V.
• Non-executive director of Brillio LLC
• Senior advisor to Atairos
• Senior independent director of Ocean Bidco Limited

Committee membership

• Audit Committee 
• Nominations and Governance Committee
• Remuneration Committee (Chair)

Appointed June 2021

Skills and contribution 

Bertrand is an accomplished business executive, with significant experience of digital transformation, technology and the application of AI. He brings exceptional leadership and business expertise to the Board, as well as experience in delivering corporate transformation programmes while maintaining a focus on performance. His significant knowledge of digital and technology matters gained across a number of sectors, including retail, enhances the Board’s oversight of these areas and the delivery of the strategy.

Experience and past appointments

Bertrand is chief executive officer of Keywords Studios PLC and was previously a member of the supervisory board of Wolters Kluwer N.V., chief digital officer at Novartis, chief digital and marketing officer at Sainsbury’s Argos, executive vice president for global digital at EMI Music and co-founder and CEO of Bragster.com. He has also held senior roles at Amazon and started his career at Boston Consulting Group. 

Current appointments 

• Chief executive officer of Keywords Studios Ltd

Committee membership

• Nominations and Governance Committee
• Sustainability Committee

Appointed April 2021

Skills and contribution 

Thierry brings extensive experience in the retail sector, both in the UK and internationally, with a successful track record of implementing business transformation and driving leading- edge digital innovation in competitive and rapidly-changing retail environments.

Experience and past appointments

Since 2019 Thierry has been chief executive officer of Kingfisher plc and previously spent over 20 years at Carrefour, the French multi-national retailer. At Carrefour he held a number of senior roles, including CEO of Carrefour Asia, CEO of Carrefour International and managing director of supermarkets for Carrefour France, and was a member of the Carrefour group executive committee.

Current appointments

• Chief executive officer of Kingfisher plc

Committee membership

• Nominations and Governance Committee
• Sustainability Committee

Appointed March 2018

Skills and contribution 

Stewart brings over 40 years’ experience and knowledge in international marketing, logistics and business management, having held a number of senior roles, predominantly in customer-centric businesses. His experiences as an executive and non-executive director, and understanding and advocacy of supplier relationships, customers, colleagues and sustainability, which directly support Tesco’s strategy, provide him with the skills and capabilities as Chair of the Sustainability Committee. The breadth and diversity of Stewart’s experience is a benefit to the Board.

Experience and past appointments 

Stewart has significant business and management experience in international markets, specifically those in Europe, having previously held roles with leading consumer-facing companies, including Whitbread, Mitchells & Butler, Interbrew and Chapel Down Group. He held the position of chief executive of Müller Dairies UK and Ireland until 2010, and chairman of C&C Group plc until July 2022. Prior to joining Tesco, he was chairman of Booker Group plc.

Current appointments

• Interim Executive Chair of IG Design Group PLC
• Non-executive director and chair of the remuneration committee of Nature’s Way Foods Ltd.

External appointments

• Sustainability Committee (Chair)
• Nominations and Governance Committee
• Remuneration Committee

Appointed February 2025

Skills and contribution 

Chris is a seasoned business leader with extensive experience across the media and hospitality sectors. He brings a wealth of knowledge in financial management, strategic planning, and corporate governance.

Experience and past appointments 

Chris has a strong media background, holding several senior executive positions, including a combined Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer role at ITV plc, where he plays a pivotal role in driving the company's financial strategy and operational efficiency. Chris spent 17 years at EMI, where he held several senior roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer. During his tenure, he significantly contributed to the company's financial and strategic operations. Chris has also served as Group Finance Director at Micro Focus International plc, ARM Holdings plc and easyJet plc, where he was instrumental in leading financial transformations and enhancing shareholder value and was voted FTSE 100 CFO of the year in 2015.

In addition to his corporate roles, Chris has also served as a non-executive director of Great Ormond St Hospital Foundation trust and Whitbread PLC. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and holds an MA in Engineering from Cambridge University.

Current appointments

• Chief financial officer of ITV plc
• Trustee of the EMI Group Archive Trust

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Nominations and Governance Committee

Appointed October 2022

Skills and contribution 

Caroline brings to the Board over 20 years of non-executive experience, together with a wealth of knowledge gained across senior commercial, financial and governance roles. Her strategic insight and significant experience, both in the financial sector and as a serving UK listed company Chair, provides guidance and constructive challenge to senior management in delivering our strategy.

Experience and past appointments

Caroline has spent more than 30 years in the investment banking sector and was most recently a partner and managing director at Moelis & Company. She has held senior corporate finance and M&A positions at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, starting her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she qualified as a chartered accountant. Previously she was a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum, a non-executive director of Meggitt PLC and M&G PLC, and on the board of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Current appointments 

• Chair of Barratt Redrow PLC and ICE Clear Europe
• Non-executive director of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
• Member of International Advisory Board of Adobe Inc and V&A Foundation
• Senior advisor to Moelis & Company
• National Film and Television School: Chair of Audit Committee

Committee membership

• Audit Committee
• Nominations and Governance Committee

Appointed June 2021

Skills and contribution 

Karen has significant retail, strategic and financial experience gained through a number of commercial, operational and governance roles. In addition, she brings to the Board extensive knowledge of the retail sector, logistics and supply chain gained across a number of senior retail roles.

Experience and past appointments 

Karen was previously a supervisory board member and member of the audit committee at GS1 UK Limited. She spent more than 10 years at J Sainsbury plc, latterly as a member of the commercial board and director of non-food grocery and new business. Prior to joining J Sainsbury 2007, she was finance director at online entertainment business BGS Holdings Limited and held a number of senior roles at Intercontinental Hotels Group Plc. Her early career was spent at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), where she qualified as a chartered accountant. She was also a non-executive director at Pets at Home Group plc and an independent advisor to GrowUp Farms Limited for six years.

Current appointments

• Senior independent director of The Rank Group plc
• Senior independent director of Tritax Big Box REIT plc
• Non-executive director of Nuffield Health

Committee membership

• Audit Committee (Chair)
• Nominations and Governance Committee
• Remuneration Committee
• Sustainability Committee

Appointed April 2025

Skills, experience and competences

Chris is an experienced chartered Company Secretary having held positions at a number of listed companies. Chris provides governance, legal and regulatory advice and support to the Board and the boards of all other legal entities in the Group.