John Hardman

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For the 18th century Liverpool merchant and MP see John Hardman (MP)

John Hardman (born 8 October 1939)^[1] is a British businessman, and a former Managing Director and Chairman of Asda.

Early life[]

He was born and grew up in Liverpool, the only son with six daughters. He attended the all-male grammar school Quarry Bank High School. He studied Economics at the University of Liverpool from 1959-62, gaining a BComm. He trained to be a chartered accountant.^[2]

Career[]

RCA[]

He worked for RCA in America from 1966, looking after a USA plant making television tubes until 1973.

Asda[]

At Asda he was Finance Director from 1981 and Chief Operating Officer from 1983.

He became Managing Director in 1984,^[3] staying until 1991. He took the number of stores from 101 in 1985 to 204 in 1991. In 1985 Asda was the UK's third-largest supermarket chain.

In 1985 he brought in a new design of store, replacing the cream and brown colour scheme for apple green and orange. The entrance area would have concessionary stores.^[4]

He became Executive Chairman from January 1988 of Asda Group.^[5] He earned £231,000 in 1989.

He resigned as Chairman on Monday 10 June 1991.^[6] Graham Stow, the chief executive of Asda Stores, also resigned. The stores subsequently were run by the two man directors.

He appeared in the Channel Five 2020 documentary Inside Asda: Bigger, Better, Cheaper?.

References[]