Richard Walker (businessman)

Last updated

Richard Malcolm Walker OBE (born 1980or1981 [1] ) is the executive chairman of the privately held British Iceland supermarket chain of predominately frozen food retailers. He is the son of the company's founder Malcolm Walker and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor, prior to joining Iceland. [2] [3] [4] [1] [5] In 2023 he expressed an interest in standing for Parliament as a Conservative, but later left the party.

Contents

Personal life

Walker was born in 1980 or 1981 [1] and is the son of Malcolm Walker, who founded Iceland in 1970. He graduated in geography from Durham University in 2001, and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. [1] [6] He is married with two children. [1]

He is chair of the environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage. [7]

When invited by New Scientist in 2021 to choose one of the "best popular science books" he nominated Enric Sala's The Nature of Nature. [8]

He has said that the best advice he has been given was from his father, who said "Never, ever, ever, ever give up". [1]

Career

Walker co-founded the property company Bywater in 2006, naming it after the street where he lived at the time. [9] As of 2022 he is still its chair though he stepped back from day-to-day involvement in 2013. [10] [9]

He joined Iceland, which his father Malcolm Walker had founded in 1970, after his father regained control of the company in 2012. [9] He worked on the shop floor and in store management before becoming managing director. [1]

In March 2019, Walker became one of 127 new members to join the World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders program. [11]

In 2021 he published The Green Grocer, which recounted his career and his ideas about business and the environment. [12] Chris Packham described it as "A remarkable insight: honest, pragmatic, hopeful and realistic", [3] and the Financial Times ' reviewer called it "an honest and positive book". [13]

In January 2023, Walker was appointed as executive chairman of Iceland as his father Malcolm Walker was due to step down, during this time Richard Walker also stated he will be taking over as chair of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation. [14]

Politics

In 2023, he revealed he was a Conservative Party candidate to stand for election to the House of Commons. He later quit the party and labelled it 'out of touch' and withdrew from the list of potential MPs. [15] [16] [17] In January 2024, Walker announced that he would be supporting Labour leader Keir Starmer to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. [18]

Charity Fundraising

In May 2023, Richard Walker successfully summited Everest with the aim of raising £1 million for The National Brain Appeal. His efforts were directed towards establishing the world’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre. Walker was accompanied by renowned mountaineer Kenton Cool, who has now achieved a record 17 ascents of Everest. [19]

Walker embarked on this expedition in honor of his mother, Lady Walker, who was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s over ten years ago.

The funds raised from this endeavor were allocated to the development of a pioneering center dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by inherited, atypical, and young-onset dementias.

This climb also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Iceland Food Charitable Foundation. The Foundation is integral to Iceland Foods' commitment to philanthropy, encapsulated in their ‘Doing it Right’ philosophy. Presently, the Foundation focuses on dementia, the environment, wellbeing, and children. [20]

To date, it has raised over £37 million to advance dementia diagnosis, improve treatments, and ultimately find a cure. [21]

Controversy

Walker has been the subject of criticism for espousing environmental values while engaging in practices such as using a company helicopter for travel purposes. [1]

Recognition

In 2021, Walker was made an honorary fellow of University College London. [22]

Walker was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to business and the environment. [23]

Selected publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Brown</span> Former British politician

Nicholas Hugh Brown, known as Nick Brown, is a British former politician and trade unionist who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Newcastle upon Tyne East between 1983 and 2024. He represented the Labour Party until his resignation in 2023. Brown is the longest-serving Chief Whip of the Labour Party, discontinuously holding the position several times between 1997 and 2021 under Blair, Brown, Miliband, Corbyn and Starmer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceland (supermarket)</span> British supermarket chain

Iceland Foods Limited, trading as Iceland, is a British supermarket chain headquartered in Deeside, Wales. It mainly sells frozen foods, including prepared meals and vegetables, alongside non-frozen grocery items such as produce, meat, dairy and dry goods. The company also operates a chain of shops called The Food Warehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Shapps</span> British politician (born 1968)

Grant Shapps is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from August 2023 to July 2024. Shapps previously served in various cabinet posts, including Conservative Party Co-Chairman, Transport Secretary, Home Secretary, Business Secretary, and Energy Secretary under Prime Ministers David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Welwyn Hatfield from 2005 to 2024. He failed to be re-elected as his constituency's MP in the 2024 general election.

Charles Lamb Allen, Baron Allen of Kensington, is a British businessman, broadcaster, and chairman of Balfour Beatty, Invictus Games, THG plc, Global Radio and Advisory chairman at Moelis & Company. Lord Allen was chief executive of Granada Group from 1996 to 2000, executive chairman of Granada Media plc from 2000 to 2004, chief executive of ITV plc from its formation in 2004 until 2007, and chairman of the music company EMI. He was chairman of Endemol, 2 Sisters Food Group and ISS, a non-executive director of Tesco and Virgin Media. In March 2012, he was appointed by Ed Miliband, the leader of the Labour Party, to the position of chairman of the executive board of the party. He has been chairman of the British Red Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keir Starmer</span> Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024

SirKeir Rodney Starmer is a British politician and barrister who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 5 July 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. A lifelong member and supporter of the Labour Party, he previously served as Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 5 July 2024, has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015, and was Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.

William Grimsey is an English businessman who has specialised in the food and DIY sectors, most notably at Wickes, Iceland, and Focus (DIY).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Reed (politician)</span> British politician (born 1963)

Steven Mark Ward Reed is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since July 2024. A member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, he is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Streatham and Croydon North, formerly Croydon North since 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angela Rayner</span> Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024

Angela Rayner is a British politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since July 2024. She has been Deputy Leader of the Labour Party since 2020 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashton-under-Lyne since 2015. Ideologically she identifies as a socialist and as being part of Labour's soft left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rishi Sunak</span> Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024

Rishi Sunak is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2022 to 2024. He has been Leader of the Conservative Party since October 2022; after the general election in July 2024, he became Leader of the Opposition. The first British Asian to hold those offices, he previously held two Cabinet positions under Boris Johnson, latterly as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022. Sunak has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond and Northallerton, previously Richmond (Yorks), since 2015. He is the most recent Conservative Party prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Tice</span> British businessman and politician (born 1964)

Richard James Sunley Tice is a British businessman and politician who has been the member of parliament (MP) for Boston and Skegness and deputy leader of Reform UK since 2024, having previously been as the chairman of the party from 2019 to 2021 and again briefly in 2024. He holds five shares in the company that controls the party, the Reform UK Party Limited. Since 2023, he has also been Reform UK's energy and foreign policy spokesman. He became the leader of Reform UK in March 2021, but stood down in June 2024 and was succeeded by Nigel Farage.

Sir Malcolm Conrad Walker is an English businessman who is the founder of Iceland Foods Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Anderson (British politician)</span> British politician (born 1967)

Lee Anderson is a British politician and television presenter who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashfield since 2019. He has been Chief Whip of Reform UK since July 2024. He was elected in 2019 as a member of the Conservative Party, but defected to Reform UK in March 2024 after having the whip suspended. He became the party's first MP, and was subsequently elected for Reform UK at the 2024 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Holden (British politician)</span> British politician (born 1985)

Richard John Holden is a British Conservative politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Basildon and Billericay since 2024. He was previously the Member of Parliament for North West Durham from 2019 to 2024. Holden was the Chairman of the Conservative Party from November 2023 until his resignation on 8 July 2024 following the general election. Holden served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads and Local Transport from October 2022 to November 2023 and as Minister without Portfolio from November 2023 to July 2024.

Richard Simon Sharp is a British former banker who became chairman of the BBC in February 2021. Following the findings of the Heppinstall inquiry into the appointment process, Sharp submitted his resignation to the BBC Board and to the Culture Secretary, which took effect at the end of June 2023.

A by-election for the House of Commons constituency of Hartlepool in the former county of Cleveland, England, was held on 6 May 2021. The by-election was triggered following the resignation of Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Mike Hill, who resigned over allegations of sexual harassment. It was held on 6 May 2021 alongside elections to the Borough Council, Tees Valley Mayor, and Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner.

On 29 November 2021, Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition in the United Kingdom, carried out a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet. The slimmed down shadow cabinet, was seen to be Starmer creating a top team in his own image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beergate</span> British political controversy

Beergate was a British political controversy concerning allegations that an event in Durham on 30 April 2021, attended by Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, could have been in breach of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Labour and Starmer said, at the time and since, that the event complied with the rules for work gatherings, with a pause for food. The police, after investigating, cleared the Labour attendees, including Starmer and Rayner.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Butler, Sarah (5 March 2022). "'I am a hypocrite': Iceland boss Richard Walker on the retailer's struggle to go green". The Observer . Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Jones, Stephen. "Iceland's Richard Walker: The man who came into the cold" . Management Today. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Is Richard Walker the greenest greengrocer ever?". Global Good Awards. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Barry, Sion (6 April 2021). "Iceland boss Richard Walker calls for digital sales tax to save the high street". Business Live. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Houlton, Cara (19 October 2022). "Iceland MD Richard Walker Launches Bid To Stand For Parliament". Grocery Gazette. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "News and event | Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours List". Durham University . 17 June 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Richard Walker is appointed our new Chair of Trustees". Surfers Against Sewage. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "10 of the best popular science books as chosen by authors and writers" . New Scientist . 24 April 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Ward, Anna (22 November 2019). "Meet the Iceland boss building green offices". www.eg.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "OUR TEAM". Bywater Properties. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Richard Walker joins the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders". Iceland. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Farrell, Steve (30 March 2021). "The Green Grocer: what we thought of Richard Walker's new book". The Grocer . Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "FT business books: April edition" . Financial Times . 8 April 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  14. ↑ Houlton, Cara (13 January 2023). "Iceland MD Richard Walker Appointed Executive Chairman". Grocery Gazette. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Iceland managing director Richard Walker launches campaign to become Tory MP". Evening Standard . 19 October 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  16. ↑ Riley, Henry [@henryriley1] (28 February 2023). "NEW | Executive Chairman of Iceland Richard Walker confirms he is seeking to stand as a Conservative MP | 'Westminster needs more people who know what it's like to have to pay the wages on a Friday' | @LBC @NickFerrariLBC @icelandrichard" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 August 2023– via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "Iceland boss quits Tories labelling party 'out of touch'". BBC News. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Iceland supermarket boss and ex-Tory donor backs Starmer for PM". The Guardian. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  19. ↑ http://coolwalkereverest.com/
  20. ↑ https://ifcf.org.uk/
  21. ↑ "Cool Walker Everest Challenge for the world's first Rare Dementia Support Centre". JustGiving. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "UCL awards 2021 Honorary Degrees and Fellowships". University College London. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 2022. p. B16.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.