Mentor
Matt Davies
Overview
Matt Davies currently serves as Chair of Auto Trader Group plc (since 2023), Chair of Greggs plc (since 2022), Chair of Travel Counsellors, and Operating Partner at Advent International - a leading global private equity investor.
In prior non-executive roles, he chaired N Brown plc. He served on the board of Dunelm Group, bringing seasoned retail and governance experience to both FTSE-listed and privately backed businesses.
He served as CEO of Pets at Home from 2004, growing the business into a £955m KKR-backed sale after doubling its retail footprint to 300+ outlets. He then led Halfords as CEO (2012–2015), steering a successful turnaround following a challenging period marked by profit warnings. In 2015, he was appointed CEO of Tesco UK & ROI, where he led recovery and cultural renewal during a testing time for Britain’s largest supermarket chain.
He brings deep cross-sector expertise in:
• Retail & digital marketplaces – establishing high-growth consumer platforms and steering FTSE-listed businesses
• Corporate turnaround & cultural renewal – reviving underperforming retail chains with disciplined execution and strategic clarity
• Board leadership & capital allocation – driving governance, reward frameworks, and investor alignment at major public and PE-backed firms
• Private equity & strategic advisory – scaling businesses through investment insight and operational influence in global markets
Matt is recognised for his pragmatic intelligence, inclusive leadership, and ability to unify performance, culture, and stakeholder trust.
PDF Profile
Download PDFMajor Career Roles
Auto Trader Group plc
Chair
Greggs plc
Chair
Tesco UK and ROI
CEO
Halfords Group plc
CEO
Pets at Home
Group FD followed by CEO
Other Career Highlights
Travel Counsellors
Chair
Mission Mars (Albert Schloss and Rudys Pizza)
Chair
Barnado's
Retail Adviser
Advent International
Operating Partner
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