Bill Grimsey

Bill Grimsey began his retail career at the age of just 15 years old when he became a butchers boy. His first managerial job was at Bishops Food Stores, where he rose to become a director, before joining Tesco in 1986 in the new role of customer services director.

Bill GrimseyIn a varied and full retail career, Bill Grimsey went on to be chief executive of store groups both in the UK and abroad in South Africa and Hong Kong and has earned a reputation as a turnaround specialist. He gained particular attention for masterminding the recovery of DIY group Wickes, which had been at the centre of an accounting scandal that resulted in the suspension of its share price and the banks foreclosing.

Another of these recovery roles was during Bill Grimseys five years at the helm of Iceland, which was renamed the Big Food Group, and was later bought out by Icelandic investors Baugur Group. Most recently, he worked with private equity backers heading the Focus DIY chain. Bill Grimsey is an experienced public speaker.

Bill is the author of the highly acclaimed book 'Sold Out', described by critics as an uncomfortable reading that will certainly tackle your perception about High Street. In Sold Out, Bill Grimsey uses insight gained from 45 years in the forefront of retailing, at store giants, which include Tesco, Wickes, Iceland and Focus DIY, to expose the real reasons for the position we find ourselves in today. Ignoring the clichéd arguments, he highlights the crucial factors, which have never been explored before, to cast new light on the fatal erosion of our High Street. He also gives a frank assessment of what this all really means to the consumer and finds we have all got the shopping experience we deserve.