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Sir Terry Leahy

Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco, is interviewed by Kirsty Young, and discusses his path from shelf-stacker to chief executive.

Kirsty Young's castaway is Sir Terry Leahy, the businessman and former CEO of Tesco.

His first job with the company was as a teenager when he worked as a shelf-stacker, but he made his name transforming the supermarket from a lack-lustre brand into Britain's biggest retailer.

His ascent to the very top was marked by a fundamental understanding of his customers' needs and a single minded determination, powered, he says, by a fear of failure.

He says of himself, "I was a relatively shy guy from a council estate and an unlikely chief executive, I'm quite happy not to be in the limelight".

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 Feb 2013 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • The Beatles

    I Wanna Hold Your Hand

    • Past Masters Vol. 1.
    • Parlaphone.

  • The Fureys

    When You Were Sweet Sixteen

    • When You Were Sweet Sixteen.
    • RITZ Records.

  • Simon & Garfunkel

    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔward Bound

    • Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits.
    • CBS.

  • Depeche Mode

    Just Can't Get Enough

    • The Best Of.
    • Mute.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Johann Pachelbel

      Canon and Gigue in D Major for 3 violins and Basso Continuo Kanon. Sostenuto – Gigue. Scherzando

      Performer: Berlin Philarmoniker – Herbert Von Karajan, Frank Maus, Harpsichord

      • Albinoni: Adagio. Pachelbel: Canon.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Yusuf Islam

    Father & Son

    • The Very Best Of Cat Stevens.
    • Island.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Messiah: Unto us a child is born

    Performer: LSO conducted by Sir Colin Davis

    • Handel Messiah.
    • SACD.

  • Georges Bizet

    L'amour est un oiseau rebelle 'Habanera' (from Carmen)

    Performer: Tatiana Troyanos, London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Georg Solti

    • Essential Opera.
    • Decca.

  • Book Choice

    • The complete works - Charles Dickens

  • Luxury Choice

    • Tea

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Terry Leahy

Broadcasts

  • Sun 3 Feb 2013 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 8 Feb 2013 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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