Justin King has been a leader in customer-facing businesses for over three decades. He has served in many senior roles at leading companies, including Sainsbury's, M&S, Asda, Häagen-Dazs, PepsiCo and Mars.
An influential businessman in the retail industry, Justin is credited for having turned Sainsbury’s around. At the beginning of his ten-year tenure at the company, Justin implemented a successful programme to ‘Make Sainsbury’s Great Again’. Under Justin’s leadership, the iconic British retailer trebled profits and delivered a shareholder return of 85%.
As an advocate for responsible business, Justin was influential in establishing the retailer’s long-standing relationship with Comic Relief, where the company pledged £1 for every £10 donated to the charity. In addition, Justin was instrumental in pioneering the company’s sponsorship of the Paralympic Games.
Justin is Vice Chairman and Senior Adviser at Terra Firma and serves as Non-Executive Director on its portfolio companies Annington and EverPower. He led the sale of Wyevale Garden Centres and brighterkind, both Terra Firma companies. He is a Non-Executive Director of M&S and serves on PWC’s Public Interest Body. He is a Senior Advisor to Atrato, Investment Adviser to Supermarket Income REIT (SUPR).
Previously, Justin was a Director of the LOCOG and Staples, and served on the audit committee of both organisations. He was also a Member of the UK Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group. Justin has a passion for cars and served as interim Chairman of the Manor Racing F1 team during its restructuring.
Justin speaks regularly on the topics of leadership through change and responsible business.
To recognise his services to the retail industry, Justin was awarded a CBE in HM The Queen’s New Year Honours List 2011 and in 2013, was named Most Admired Business Leader by Management Today.
Justin launched Made by Sport in 2019, a charity that champions the power of sport to transform young lives.
