Justin King

Justin King CBE is one of Britain’s most respected business leaders, widely recognised for leading the transformation of J Sainsbury plc during a defining period in its history. As one of the youngest CEOs in the FTSE 100, Justin built his reputation on clarity, courage and a deep belief in customer focus. His leadership style is grounded, visible and practical, shaped by decades spent at the heart of competitive consumer markets. Today, he is a sought-after keynote speaker on inspirational leadership, organisational culture and sustainable growth.

Justin’s career began as a graduate trainee at Mars Incorporated, before progressing to senior roles at PepsiCo and Grand Metropolitan, now Diageo, where he introduced Häagen-Dazs to the UK market. He later became Managing Director of Hypermarkets at Asda and Director of Food at Marks & Spencer, building a strong track record in brand growth and operational leadership. In 2004, he took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of Sainsbury’s, stepping into a business that was losing market share and confidence. Justin responded with his bold recovery strategy, ‘Making Sainsbury’s Great Again’, resetting the culture and refocusing the organisation on service and performance.

Under Justin’s leadership, Sainsbury’s achieved twelve consecutive quarters of sales growth, tripled profits and delivered an 85% shareholder return. He strengthened relationships with colleagues and customers alike, introducing initiatives such as the ‘Tell Justin’ feedback scheme and working in stores during peak periods to remain connected to frontline teams. In 2011, he was appointed CBE for services to the retail industry, and in 2013 he was named Most Admired Business Leader by Management Today. Beyond Sainsbury’s, Justin has held a number of influential board roles, reflecting his continued impact on British business.

Currently, Justin serves as Chair of Dexters and Non-Executive Chairman of Itsu Grocery, and has recently held the position of Chair of OVO Energy. He is also an advisory board member to growth-focused ventures including Boxfund VC and Nuud. As a keynote speaker, Justin shares practical insights on leading through uncertainty, driving cultural change and delivering measurable results. He speaks candidly about tough decisions, resilience and the responsibility leaders carry when guiding large organisations through transformation.