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".
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Music Played
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The Beatles
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
- Past Masters Vol. 1.
- Parlaphone.
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The Fureys
When You Were Sweet Sixteen
- When You Were Sweet Sixteen.
- RITZ Records.
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Simon & Garfunkel
Homeward Bound
- Simon and Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits.
- CBS.
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Depeche Mode
Just Can't Get Enough
- The Best Of.
- Mute.
Castaway's Favourite
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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.
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Cat Stevens
Father And Son
- The Very Best Of Cat Stevens.
- Island.
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George Frideric Handel
Messiah: Unto us a child is born
Performer: LSO conducted by Sir Colin Davis
- Handel Messiah.
- SACD.
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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
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Kirsty Young |
| Interviewed Guest | Terry Leahy |
Broadcasts
- Sun 3 Feb 201311:15BBC Radio 4
- Fri 8 Feb 201309:00BBC Radio 4
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