Peter Marks
Encyclopedia
Peter Vincent Marks is a British
businessman
, who is the current Chief Executive of the British member-owned retailer The Co-operative Group
.
, then a state grammar school
, in Heaton
which he left at the age of 17 to stack shelves.
In 1991 he was promoted to the position of Non-Food Trades Officer, responsible for the Department Stores, Funeral and Travel divisions In February 1996 the Food Division was added to his responsibilities. Later that year he was appointed Chief General Manager (Retail). When he joined in 1967, the Co-op had 25% of the grocery market; now it has around 9%. To deal with this, the company no longer has as many superstores but medium-sized stores. The company had 87,000 employees in 2007.
In September 2002 Yorkshire and United Norwest Co-operatives merged as United Co-operatives
. In July 2007 United Co-operatives merged with the Co-operative Group
and Marks became chief executive of the new merged organisation. He replaced Martin Beaumont who was Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group
prior to Marks.
Until the merger, Marks was a Director on the Co-operative Group Board and is on the board of the Bradford Centre Regeneration Company. His basic salary in 2010 was £900,000, with a performance-related bonus of £449,000.
in West Yorkshire. He is married with two daughters. He married Julia Law in 1971 in Bradford.
He plays in a Bradford band, "Last Orders", who regularly gig in and around Bradford, playing
He is also a supporter of Bradford City Football Club
.
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...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, who is the current Chief Executive of the British member-owned retailer The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
.
Early life
He went to St. Bede's Grammar SchoolSt. Bede's Grammar School
St. Bede's Grammar School, in Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire is a Roman Catholic boys' Secondary school and specialist science college close to Bradford city centre.-School history:...
, then a state grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, in Heaton
Heaton, West Yorkshire
Heaton is a Ward of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It includes the villages of Frizinghall, Heaton and Daisy Hill, extending to Chellow Heights reservoir on the western edge and the Bradford-Shipley railway line on the eastern edge...
which he left at the age of 17 to stack shelves.
Career
Marks first joined what became Yorkshire Co-operatives in 1967 as a management trainee in the Food Division. He was appointed Assistant Personnel Manager in 1974 and Personnel Manager in 1976.In 1991 he was promoted to the position of Non-Food Trades Officer, responsible for the Department Stores, Funeral and Travel divisions In February 1996 the Food Division was added to his responsibilities. Later that year he was appointed Chief General Manager (Retail). When he joined in 1967, the Co-op had 25% of the grocery market; now it has around 9%. To deal with this, the company no longer has as many superstores but medium-sized stores. The company had 87,000 employees in 2007.
Chief Executive
Appointed Deputy Chief Executive officer in 1999, Marks became the Society's Chief Executive in 2000.In September 2002 Yorkshire and United Norwest Co-operatives merged as United Co-operatives
United Co-operatives
United Co-operatives Limited, or simply United Co-op, was the largest regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom until its merger with The Co-operative Group in 2007. The Society operated across Yorkshire, the north west and north Midlands of England...
. In July 2007 United Co-operatives merged with the Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
and Marks became chief executive of the new merged organisation. He replaced Martin Beaumont who was Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
prior to Marks.
Until the merger, Marks was a Director on the Co-operative Group Board and is on the board of the Bradford Centre Regeneration Company. His basic salary in 2010 was £900,000, with a performance-related bonus of £449,000.
Personal life
He lives in EldwickEldwick
Eldwick is a small village near Bingley, West Yorkshire. It is split up into two main parts, Eldwick, the main populated part, and High Eldwick, the larger but less populated section, situated on Bingley Moor.- Landmarks :...
in West Yorkshire. He is married with two daughters. He married Julia Law in 1971 in Bradford.
Other Interests
Peter Marks is a keen musician in his spare time; he has said:
"I owe this business everything. It’s a fantastic business. I’ve never wanted or needed to work for anyone else. I’ve gone from nothing on the shop floor to one of the best jobs. Well, I can only think of one job better than this and that would be drumming for the Rolling Stones."
He plays in a Bradford band, "Last Orders", who regularly gig in and around Bradford, playing
"Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
style Rock n RollRock N Roll-Personnel:*Ryan Adams - Bass, Composer, Costume Design, Guitar, Keyboards, Multi Instruments, Vocals, Vocals *Billie Joe Armstrong - Vocals *Melissa Auf der Maur - Vocals...
to Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
type Rock of the 60's & 70's. Some country songs thrown in from such artists as The Eagles, Delbert McClintonDelbert McClintonDelbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
and the like"
He is also a supporter of Bradford City Football Club
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
.