Education
Downing College.
Downing College.
He is currently Chairman of the European Division of Groupe Aeroplan, which owns and runs the Nectar Loyalty Programme in the United Kingdom. He also serves as Non Executive Chairman of Virgin Active, non executive director of Whitbread plc, Operating Partner at Advent International and Chairman of Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. After graduating from Downing College, Cambridge, Baker worked at Mars Confectionery for nearly 10 years, working his way up to Sales and Marketing Director. He joined Asda Stores Limited in 1995, where he worked for the following 9 years becoming Marketing Director in 1999, and ultimately chief operating officer in 2002, following their acquisition by Walmart. In September 2003, Baker joined Boots Group as chief executive officer
The company had been reporting losses following its ill-advised move into its "Wellbeing" services, which included Dentistry, Massage and Botox.
Despite implementing a number of cost-cutting measures and extending opening hours, the company continued to struggle until October 2005 it announced it was to merge with competitor Alliance Unichem. The announcement met with widespread opposition, but the merger was cleared by the OFT in February 2006 and completed in July that year.
Baker became chief executive officer of the new Alliance Boots GmbH. In April 2007, after publishing annual results that showed a profit increase of 7.4%, Alliance Boots was sold to private equity firm KKR for £11.1 billion. The highest price ever paid by a private equity company for a British public company.
Baker left the company on completion of the transaction.
Baker has served as chairman of Dancer Fitzgerald Sample since April 2010, following Advent International"s £500 million takeover of the furniture retail chain. Baker now holds various board and advisory roles with top international companies including:
Chairman of the European Division of Groupe Aeroplan, which owns and runs the Nectar Loyalty Programme in the United Kingdom. lieutenant also has interests in other loyalty schemes across Europe. Non Executive Chairman of Virgin Active. non executive director of Whitbread PLC
Operating Partner at Advent International.
Chairman of Dancer Fitzgerald Sample.
