Bill Grimsey
Encyclopedia
Bill Grimsey is a businessman living in Radlett in the United Kingdom
who has specialised in the food and DIY sectors, most notably at Wickes
, Iceland
, and Focus (DIY)
.
in 1986, Grimsey joined Tesco
to work for Lord MacLaurin.
In 1988, Grimsey left to run Hutchison Whampoa
's Park n' Shop
supermarket chain in Hong Kong
, where he remained five years, increasing profits twentyfold. He then returned to the United Kingdom
for a short spell at Kingfisher plc
.
.
, replacing Stuart Rose
who had been CEO since Iceland's merger with Booker plc in the summer of 2000.
Malcolm Walker, Iceland's founder & Chairman, was forced to stand down soon after as it was revealed he had sold £13.5 million of Iceland shares five weeks before the company released the first of several profits warnings. Walker was not fully cleared of these allegations until October 2004.
Iceland was renamed the Big Food Group
in Feb 2002, and attempted a refocus on the convenience sector with a bid for Londis
. Grimsey remained until the takeover and demerger of the Big Food Group by a consortium led by the Iceland
ic company, Baugur Group
in February 2005. Walker returned to his previous role at Iceland.
Under Walker's control Iceland's website is a polemic against Grimsey's period in charge.
He later served as a non-executive director of Capita Group
plc from October 2006 until standing down in July 2010, and as CEO of Focus (DIY)
from its acquisition by Cerberus Capital £1 in June 2007 then as its chairman from 2010 until the company's insolvency in May 2011.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
who has specialised in the food and DIY sectors, most notably at Wickes
Wickes
Wickes is a do-it-yourself retailer based in the United Kingdom and owned by Travis Perkins, with more than 190 stores throughout the country. It focuses on supplies and materials for homeowners and the building trade...
, Iceland
Iceland (supermarket)
Iceland is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Iceland's primary product lines include frozen foods, such as frozen prepared meals and frozen vegetables - hence the name of the company...
, and Focus (DIY)
Focus (DIY)
Focus DIY was a privately owned chain of DIY stores in the UK. It served the consumer DIY market sector, and most stores had some form of garden centre....
.
Early career
Grimsey left school at 15 to became a butcher's boy. Under pressure from his father he then trained as a civil engineer for two years before returning to college to take his A-levels, and joining Bishop's Food Stores as a trainee manager, rising to become a director. The chain was eventually bought by Booker. When Bishop's merged with BudgensBudgens
Budgens Stores Ltd is a chain of foodstores in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1872 by John Budgen, who opened the first store at Maidenhead, Berkshire. Budgens supermarket chain operates over 227 stores and employs over 6,000 staff...
in 1986, Grimsey joined Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
to work for Lord MacLaurin.
In 1988, Grimsey left to run Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa
Hutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
's Park n' Shop
PARKnSHOP
PARKnSHOP is one of the two largest supermarket chains in Hong Kong, the other being Wellcome. PARKnSHOP operates more than 260 outlets in Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China....
supermarket chain in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, where he remained five years, increasing profits twentyfold. He then returned to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for a short spell at Kingfisher plc
Kingfisher plc
Kingfisher plc is a multinational retailing company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest home improvement retailer in Europe and the third-largest in the world...
.
Wickes
He then ran Wickes' joint venture in South Africa, returning to the UK again in July 1996 to take up the position of managing director of WBS, the Wickes' retailing subsidiary which was at the centre of serious accounting irregularities. In November Grimsey moved to Wickes to oversee its recovery from the accounting irregularity scandal that saw its share price suspended and the banks foreclosing. Grimsey launched a rights issue, started an employee share scheme, and turned around the company to the point where it was bought by Focus-Do-It-All, backed by Duke Street CapitalDuke Street Capital
Duke Street is a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in middle-market companies in Western Europe, particularly the UK and France....
.
Iceland
In January 2001 he took up the position of CEO of IcelandIceland (supermarket)
Iceland is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Iceland's primary product lines include frozen foods, such as frozen prepared meals and frozen vegetables - hence the name of the company...
, replacing Stuart Rose
Stuart Rose
Sir Stuart Alan Ransom Rose is a British businessman, who was the executive chairman of the British retailer Marks & Spencer. For this role he was paid an annual salary of £1,130,000...
who had been CEO since Iceland's merger with Booker plc in the summer of 2000.
Malcolm Walker, Iceland's founder & Chairman, was forced to stand down soon after as it was revealed he had sold £13.5 million of Iceland shares five weeks before the company released the first of several profits warnings. Walker was not fully cleared of these allegations until October 2004.
Iceland was renamed the Big Food Group
The Big Food Group
The Big Food Group was a food retail and wholesale company based in the UK. It was created in 2000 when the supermarket chain Iceland merged with Booker Cash & Carry plc.The company was purchased by Icelandic retail consortium Baugur in 2005, and split into:...
in Feb 2002, and attempted a refocus on the convenience sector with a bid for Londis
Londis
Londis is the name for two convenience store franchises operating in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The stores form a symbol group and are all owned on a franchise basis.-Great Britain:...
. Grimsey remained until the takeover and demerger of the Big Food Group by a consortium led by the Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic company, Baugur Group
Baugur Group
Baugur Group was an Icelandic investment company. The group applied for bankruptcy protection in February 2009, after placing its UK arm in administration.- History :...
in February 2005. Walker returned to his previous role at Iceland.
Under Walker's control Iceland's website is a polemic against Grimsey's period in charge.
Later career
Grimsey then worked as a Senior Managing Director (interim manager) at FTI Palladium Partners, London from March 2006.He later served as a non-executive director of Capita Group
Capita Group
The Capita Group Plc , commonly known as Capita Group or Capita, is a business process outsourcing and recruitment company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest business process outsourcing company in the UK, with an overall market share of 27% in 2009, and has clients in...
plc from October 2006 until standing down in July 2010, and as CEO of Focus (DIY)
Focus (DIY)
Focus DIY was a privately owned chain of DIY stores in the UK. It served the consumer DIY market sector, and most stores had some form of garden centre....
from its acquisition by Cerberus Capital £1 in June 2007 then as its chairman from 2010 until the company's insolvency in May 2011.