Laurie McIlwee
Pro-Chancellor, Lord Plumb, distinguished friends, colleagues, graduands and guests.
It is always with particular pride and pleasure that the University welcomes back one of its own alumni as an honorary graduate. This is especially true when they return garlanded with the success and achievement of today’s recipient.
Laurie McIlwee was born in the Midlands and was educated at Hagley High School and Stourbridge College of Technology and Art. He went on to study Economics at what was then the Lanchester Polytechnic in Coventry, graduating with an honours degree. He was a very active member of the Polytechnic, playing for both the rugby and football teams during his time as a student.
On leaving Coventry, Laurie moved to London where he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1986 with what was then the Midland Bank. During this period he also worked on the ground breaking project to launch First Direct, the first telephone banking service in the UK.
In 1991, he joined Pepsico, one of the major American food and drink multinational companies, well known the world over for its popular cola drink and its easily recognisable brand. He worked initially in the drinks division of the company covering the Middle East and Africa, and based in Cyprus. He then moved to Vienna, where he became Finance Director for the Central European division, which also covered the recently opened markets of the former Soviet Union. He relished the challenges that this job offered, and went on to become General Manager for eight countries in the region. In 1996 he returned to the UK to be Finance Director for Pepsico’s snacks division, including the popular and well-known Walker’s snack foods, one of the biggest brands of its kind in the UK. His management ability was clearly becoming evident and he was invited to move to Dallas to become Vice President of Business Planning and Strategy for all Pepsico’s Frito-Lay businesses outside of the USA.
His career with Tesco began in 2000 when he returned to Europe to become the Finance Director of the UK division of the retailing company. A key achievement during this period was the embedding of the principles of volume growth, profit growth and reinvestment back towards the customers into the company’s business strategy. After several years in this role he progressed to become the Distribution Director in the UK in 2005, boldly leading a complete restructuring and redesign of Tesco’s supply chain. This was a complex and challenging task, which he managed with success, minimising significant disruption to the company’s operations. He also spent time setting up Tesco’s service centre in Bangalore, an experience which has stood him in good stead as Tesco has boosted its international presence, becoming the third largest retailer in the world.
In 2009 he was promoted to the Tesco PLC Board and became the Chief Financial Officer. His experience in America was clearly a benefit to the Group as it sought during this period to develop its business there with its Fresh ‘N’ Easy concept. In 2011 the accountability for leading the Tesco Group’s strategy was added to his role, making him now one of the most influential and important people in the UK retailing industry today.
Laurie is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and a member of The Hundred Group of Finance Directors. He is married with six children and lives in Hertfordshire. Despite his work responsibilities he still finds time to pursue his interests in golf, gym and cycling, as well as raising money for a number of charities, and he admits to being a supporter of West Bromwich Albion.
Laurie’s commitment to hard work, to taking on new challenges, and to seeking out the best people to work with should act as an inspiration to us all.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to financial services, Coventry University, by decision of the Academic Board, has the privilege of conferring the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa, on Laurie McIlwee.