Archie Norman

…one of the most high-profile turnrounds in British corporate history….

Archie Norman was born in May 1954. He was educated at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Emmanuel College, Cambridge (MA Economics); and Harvard Business School (MBA).

He worked for Citibank NA (1975-1977), was a partner at McKinsey & Co Plc (1979-1986), Group Finance Director of Kingfisher Plc (1986-1991), before joining Asda plc as Chief Executive in 1991.

It was here that he undertook one of the most high-profile turnrounds in British corporate history, and as a result became a household name.

Archie was a Non Executive Director of Geest Plc from 1988-1991, of British Rail 1992-1994, and was a Non Executive Director of Railtrack from 1994 – 2000.

Other appointments held include, Patron of the Yorkshire and North-East Bow Group, Fellow of the Marketing Society, Member of the Whitehall Dining Club, Council Member of the Industrial Society, Governor of the Institute of Economic and Social Research, and a Member of the Advisory Group on the Ingliston Development Trust of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

He has also previously been a Member of the HM Government Deregulation Taskforce (1993-1997), and a Member of the Anglo-German Deregulation Taskforce in 1995.

Archie was elected Conservative Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells in May 1997. He was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party in June 1997, with special responsibility for the reform and renewal programme. In July 1998 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Conservative Party. In the reshuffle of June 1999, Mr Norman became Front Bench Spokesman for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and was appointed Shadow Secretary for Environment Transport and Regions in February 2000. In 2001 he returned to the back benches. .

Archie Norman is now one of the most respected business leaders in the country, and is one of the most outstanding speakers on leadership, change and customer service.