John Irish, Esq, CBE

Career: cmmnd Nat Serv 1952-54; exec Marks and Spencer 1954-65, retail dir David Greig 1965-70; chm: Eight Till Late Ltd 1981-91, Spar (UK) Ltd 1983-94 (md 1981-94), Spar Landmark Ltd 1993-94, Numark Ltd 1994-97, OSTA Ltd 1994-99, Burford Consultants Ltd 1995-2001, Assured British Meat Ltd 1997, Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb Ltd 1997-98; chief exec: Spar Landmark Services 1985-94, Landmark Cash and Carry Ltd 1986-91; dir: IGD (Amsterdam based trading co of International Spar) 1983-94, NAAFI 1989-99, Wessex Quality Meat Ltd 1996-98; hon pres Spar Nat Guild 1994- (vice-chm 1984-94); vice-pres Br Retail Consortium 1991-2001 (dep chm Retail Consortium 1981-91), memb Cncl Food from Britain 1991-98, conslt to Nat Fedn of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) 1999-2003; formerly: chm Voluntary Gp Assoc, memb Cncl Inst of Grocery Distribution, memb NEDC Distributive Trades, memb Cncl Nat Grocers' Benevolent Fund; Supermarketing Man of the Year 1986, Independent Grocer Gold Award 1987; govr Orley Farm Sch Middx 1980-2007, tstee One Plus One 1986-2000; FIGD 1985, FRSA 1989, fell Inst of European Business Suppliers (FIEBS) 1996