Weekly tip: Follow it up

Sir Gerry Robinson is the former Chairman of Allied Domecq, an international company that operated spirits and wine companies and quick service restaurants.

After leaving college at age seventeen, Sir Gerry planned to become a priest. Instead, in 1965, he joined Matchbox Toys (a division of Mattel, Inc.), a company he stayed with for nine years before moving to Lex Service Group, Plc.

In 1980 he joined Grand Metropolitan as the Finance Director of the U.K. Coca-Cola business. He became Managing Director in 1982 and then took up the mantle of CEO of Grand Met’s Contract Services Division. In 1987 he led the management buyout of the business from Grand Metropolitan.

He joined Granada, Plc. as CEO in 1991, latterly overseeing the company’s takeover of Forte Hotels in 1996. He was then instrumental in the merger between Granada Group and Compass Group, Plc. in 2000. He retired from Granada in 2001 and became Chairman of Allied Domecq, Plc. a year later. He stood down as Chairman after a takeover by Pernod Ricard.

Sir Gerry Robinson was awarded a Knighthood in the 2003 New Year’s Honours for Services to the Arts and Business.