Allan Leighton

Allan Leighton (born April 12, 1953 in Hereford) is an English businessman, and current non-executive Chairman of the Royal Mail Born in Hereford, the son of a Co-op stores manager, he was raised in Oxford. Educated at Magdalen College School, Brackley he harboured thoughts of becoming a professional footballer, but broke his leg in six places aged 15. After graduation from North Oxford Polytechnic, he joined Lloyds Bank as a cashier in 1972. Lei... more

Allan Leighton (born April 12, 1953 in Hereford) is an English businessman, and current non-executive Chairman of the Royal Mail Born in Hereford, the son of a Co-op stores manager, he was raised in Oxford. Educated at Magdalen College School, Brackley he harboured thoughts of becoming a professional footballer, but broke his leg in six places aged 15. After graduation from North Oxford Polytechnic, he joined Lloyds Bank as a cashier in 1972. Leighton left to join Mars UK in Slough 1974 as a salesman, where he spent 18 years - his compatriots included Justin King, David Cheesewright and Richard Baker. Leighton was appointed General Sales Manager – UK Grocery Division in 1987 (the youngest director in the company worldwide), and subsequently Managing Director of Mars in Ireland and Portugal. Leighton says he owes a lot to the Mars brothers, who gave him the practical basis for much of what he did at Asda: they would fly economy, hire a car and inspect a factory without warning before... less