6) Alex Laffey, distribution director, Tesco
Laffey has taken over the top job in UK supermarket logistics from Steve Strachota, the American former finance director who transformed Tesco’s distribution operation in his two years in charge.
Despite its troubles, Tesco remains the UK’s biggest grocer, and after a series of profit warnings the wounded beast will be an even more aggressive negotiator in 2015 as it seeks to cut billions from its supply chain costs. Saving a pound is seen as easier than making a pound in today’s competitive food retail market, and none of Tesco’s suppliers and contractors will be immune.
But Tesco is wise enough to know it can’t make the savings it needs just by asking its suppliers to sharpen their pencils even further – big savings will only be achieved by genuine collaboration that drives out waste and inefficiency. But like cutting the national debt, talking about saving money by eliminating waste is easier said than done.
Strachota also took Tesco’s secondary distribution inhouse because he believed Tesco could do it better than any 3PL – he could be right but that puts enormous pressure on his successor to make it work.
Over the next 20 days we will be counting down our Top 20. As ever, we’d welcome your feedback and input into the debate. Send us your thoughts on Twitter - @Motor_Transport - using the hashtag #MTPowerPlayers