Lesley was Main Board Director and Human Resources Director of Tesco Plc until 1999; she now pursues a portfolio career as non-executive Director of Selfridges, Care UK Plc and the West Bromwich Building Society. She is also an advisory Board Member of the TUC Partnership Institute and a Steering Board Member of the DTI, Insolvency Service.

Lesley is an expert in people management and business leadership and continues to be instrumental in demonstrating and promoting the financial benefits of strategic investment in people. One of Lesley’s major innovations is the implementation of ground breaking partnership agreements in the retail sector between Trade Union and employer with the objective of engaging all staff in the achievement of business goals.

Lesley received a BA in Humanities from the Open University in 1977 and an MA in Industrial Relations from the University of Warwick in 1978 before embarking on her career in the UK retail sector. She was Management Development Manager at Sketchley Ltd, Personnel Manager at Savacentre Ltd before moving to Tesco Plc in 1985.

At Tesco her responsibilities increased through various personnel and training roles to include the entire Human Resources function including pay and policy development, employee relations, training and management development, and operations. As a Main Board Member from 1994, Lesley saw sales and profits rise dramatically, with Tesco becoming the number one food retailer in the UK.

With her insight into customer care and business success through people Lesley has become a specialist in helping businesses to reap large financial gains by continually promoting the link between human resources management and business profits.

With her positive presentation style and wealth of experience in the UK retail sector, Lesley is a highly sought after speaker with an impressive track record.