Allan Leighton started his career in Mars Confectionery as a Salesman in 1974. He worked his way up through the company before leaving in 1991. He then joined Pedigree Petfoods, where he was Sales Director until his appointment in 1992 to Asda Supermarkets. He began his career in Asda... Read more
Allan Leighton started his career in Mars Confectionery as a Salesman in 1974. He worked his way up through the company before leaving in 1991.
He then joined Pedigree Petfoods, where he was Sales Director until his appointment in 1992 to Asda Supermarkets. He began his career in Asda as Group Marketing Director and was appointed Chief Executive in September 1996. It was in the role of CEO that he was credited with turning what he once described as a ‘basket case’ into a text book example of how a company can turn itself round. Asda has since become both a leading player in its market and is regularly cited as one of the best companies in the country to work for. This success led to the sale of Asda to US retail giant Wal-Mart for £6.7billion in 1999. After the sale to Wal-Mart Allan became the President and CEO of Wal-Mart Europe.
In November 2000 Allan Leighton left Asda and famously coined the phrase ‘Going Plural’. This idea of working full time but not in any one company led to Allan taking on Non-executive roles in a range of companies. He is currently President of Loblaw Companies Ltd, Deputy Chairman of Selfridges & Co and George Weston Ltd, and Non Executive Director of BSKYB Group plc.
In June 2007 Allan’s book “On Leadership: Practical Wisdom From The People Who Know” was published by Random House.
In September 2011, Allan’s book “‘Tough Calls: Making the right decisions in difficult times’ was released. Allan is open to doing presentations on this subject.
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You can book Allan Leighton through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Allan's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Allan Leighton's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Allan tailored to your event.
Allan Leighton speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Allan to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Allan Leighton for events worldwide, subject to Allan's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Allan Leighton is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Allan can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Allan Leighton on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Allan can offer.
Allan Leighton delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Allan Leighton's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Allan's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Allan Leighton can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Allan's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Allan Leighton is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Allan Leighton, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Allan's current availability for your dates.