In 2007, after leading the auto maker's U.K. supply-chain management, he was named a global senior vice president in charge of emerging markets, including China.

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Helping to drive sales but to temporarily depress profits was the acquisition out of bankruptcy of Clinton Cards, a U.K.-based chain of 400 retail card shops.

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Waitrose, the U.K.-based supermarket chain, in October achieved its goal of sending zero food waste to landfills.

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In the U.K. market, Wal-Mart's Asda supermarket chain has been facing increasing competition, as well as the prospect of being prosecuted for its refusal to recognize unions.

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His views are supported by fellow U.K. supermarket chain Morrisons, whose 2, 000-strong survey of British wine drinkers found that, when it comes to buying wine, 74% said they weren't confident.

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Aggressively expanding in the U.K. and U.S. Plus an 11% stake in Boise, Idaho-based Albertson's grocery chain.

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