David Reid

David Reid has been Chairman of Tesco plc since 2004. Tesco employs around 500,000 people world-wide and is recognised as one of the best managed businesses in the world.

Tesco operates various store formats that offer food and non-food products, such as fresh produce, wines and spirits, in-store bakery, ready-meals, sandwiches, DVDs, books, electrical equipment, homewares, clothing, health and beauty items, and garden furniture. The company also provides telecom services, including mobile network, home phone, Internet access, Internet phone, and various telecom products and services in store and online. In addition, it offers financial and insurance services ranging from savings accounts and credit cards to car and travel insurance. The company operates in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China (where it already has over 100 stores) and the United States.

David was appointed Finance Director of Tesco in 1985 and subsequently also took responsibility for IT, Distribution and Business Development. From 1996 to 2003, David was Deputy Chairman with responsibility for Business Development, Strategic Planning and the International Operations in Central Europe, Asia and the Republic of Ireland. He became Chairman in 2004.

During his time at Tesco, David has held non-executive directorships at Westbury plc, Legal & General Group plc and De Vere Group plc. He is currently Senior Independent Non Executive Director of Reed Elsevier Group plc and Chairman of Kwik-Fit Group. He is also Deputy Chairman of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council (SIBAC), and a member of the China Development Forum. He is the former President of the food industry trade association, IGD. David is also Chairman of the Tesco Charity Trust, and in 2008 was appointed Chairman of Whizz-Kidz. In 2010, he was appointed one of Prime Minister David Cameron's Business Ambassadors.