Richard Baker

Richard Baker (Former Chief Executive Boots)

After graduating with an engineering degree from Cambridge, Richard
Baker decided his chosen career was ‘too slow and not very exciting'
and joined Mars. After nine years at Mars, his former colleague Allan
Leighton recruited him to be business unit director of ASDA, where he
progressed up the ranks to become chief operating officer. His success
at the grocer propelled him into the job of chief executive of Boots,
with the brief to revive the fortunes of an ailing retailer. Baker resigned from Boots in July 2007, following the completion of Boots' £8billion merger with French Group Alliance Unichem, which created Europe's largest health and beauty retailer with 2,500 pharmacies and 390 drug distribution outlets in 14 countries.

He is currently Chairman of the European Division of Groupe Aeroplan, which owns and runs the Nectar Loyalty Programme in the UK. He also serves as Non Executive Chairman of Virgin Active, Non Executive Director of Whitbread plc, Operating Partner at Advent International and Chairman of DFS.