Peter Marks

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Peter V. Marks (b. 1949, Bradford) is the Chief Executive of the British member-owned retailer the Co-operative Group.

Marks first joined what became Yorkshire Co-operatives in 1967 as a management trainee in the Food Division. He was appointed Assistant Personnel Manager in 1974 and Personnel Manager in 1976.

In 1991 he was promoted to the position of Non-Food Trades Officer, responsible for the Department Stores, Funeral and Travel divisions In February 1996 the Food Division was added to his responsibilities. Later that year he was appointed Chief General Manager (Retail).

Appointed Deputy Chief Executive officer in 1999, Marks became the Society's Chief Executive in 2000. In September 2002 Yorkshire and United Norwest Co-operatives merged as United Co-operatives. In July 2007 United Co-operatives merged with the Co-operative Group and Marks became chief executive of the new merged organisation. He replaced Martin Beaumont who was Chief Executive of the Co-operative Group prior to Marks.

Until the merger, Marks was a Director on the Co-operative Group Board and is on the board of the Bradford Centre Regeneration Company.

[edit] Other Interests

Peter Marks is a keen musician in his spare time; he has said

“I owe this business everything. It’s a fantastic business. I’ve never wanted or needed to work for anyone else. I’ve gone from nothing on the shop floor to one of the best jobs. Well, I can only think of one job better than this and that would be drumming for the Rolling Stones.”

He plays in a Bradford band, "Last Orders", who regularly gig in and around Bradford, playing

"Chuck Berry style Rock n Roll to Lynyrd Skynyrd type Rock of the 60's & 70's. Some country songs thrown in from such artists as The Eagles, Delbert McClinton and the like"