The Grocer’s readers have voted Marks and Spencer chairman Luc Vandevelde as their personality of the year.
Every September, readers vote for the person they think has shown clear leadership and achievement, and who, as a result, has made the biggest impact on the industry.
A record number of votes were cast, with Vandevelde named as the clear winner of The Grocer Cup for Outstanding Business Achievement 2002.
“Winning any accolade is special. But when it is an award that is decided by those who work in your industry, it becomes really special,” said the M&S chairman.
But Vandevelde stressed the award was testimony to the hard work of all his colleagues at M&S in rebuilding the business over the past two years.
When he took over in 2000, the retail chain was in serious trouble. Profits had halved and its share price had slumped. However, Vandevelde set about focusing M&S on its core activities in the UK.
And last week the chain was able to demonstrate its recovery was firmly on track when it released a buoyant trading statement that saw its shares hit a new high.
Vandevelde was chosen by readers from a shortlist of candidates that also included Sir Don Curry, Tony de Nunzio, Gerry Johnson, Sir Terry Leahy, Marie Melnyk, Gavin Neath, John Sunderland, Sara Weller and Graham White.
Previous winners of The Grocer Cup have included Allan Leighton, David Felwick, Sir Terry Leahy, Tony Pearce and, last year, Sir Peter Davis.
The 2002 award was announced earlier this week at the IGD Food Industry Awards.
Julian Hunt, editor of The Grocer, said: “Luc emerged as the clear winner from a shortlist of truly impressive candidates. He is a worthy holder of The Grocer Cup and joins our previous winners who read like a Who’s Who of the grocery industry.”
Every September, readers vote for the person they think has shown clear leadership and achievement, and who, as a result, has made the biggest impact on the industry.
A record number of votes were cast, with Vandevelde named as the clear winner of The Grocer Cup for Outstanding Business Achievement 2002.
“Winning any accolade is special. But when it is an award that is decided by those who work in your industry, it becomes really special,” said the M&S chairman.
But Vandevelde stressed the award was testimony to the hard work of all his colleagues at M&S in rebuilding the business over the past two years.
When he took over in 2000, the retail chain was in serious trouble. Profits had halved and its share price had slumped. However, Vandevelde set about focusing M&S on its core activities in the UK.
And last week the chain was able to demonstrate its recovery was firmly on track when it released a buoyant trading statement that saw its shares hit a new high.
Vandevelde was chosen by readers from a shortlist of candidates that also included Sir Don Curry, Tony de Nunzio, Gerry Johnson, Sir Terry Leahy, Marie Melnyk, Gavin Neath, John Sunderland, Sara Weller and Graham White.
Previous winners of The Grocer Cup have included Allan Leighton, David Felwick, Sir Terry Leahy, Tony Pearce and, last year, Sir Peter Davis.
The 2002 award was announced earlier this week at the IGD Food Industry Awards.
Julian Hunt, editor of The Grocer, said: “Luc emerged as the clear winner from a shortlist of truly impressive candidates. He is a worthy holder of The Grocer Cup and joins our previous winners who read like a Who’s Who of the grocery industry.”
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