Archie Norman

Asda was near collapse with heavy debts in 1991 when Norman arrived from Kingfisher. With his deputy Allan Leighton he cut head office, sold non-core businesses, refocused on everyday low prices for family shoppers and encouraged store staff to speak up. The share price rose many times over, and Walmart bought Asda in 1999. Two decades later, as chairman of Marks & Spencer, he oversaw a second recovery with chief executive Stuart Machin.