Richard Pennycook CBE
Biography
Richard Pennycook is Chair of Skills England. He stepped down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Co-op in 2017 to pursue a portfolio career.
He has over 30 years’ experience in retail, starting with the management buyout of Allders in the late 1980s. Over the years, he has been involved in the growth of J D Wetherspoon and the turnarounds of Laura Ashley, Welcome Break, Bulmers and Morrisons.
He is currently chairman of On the Beach plc, Two Sisters Food Group and Wolf and Badger Ltd.
Industrial Strategy Advisory Council member
Richard is a member of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) by virtue of his role as interim chair of Skills England, a new arm’s length body that will bring partners together to meet the skills needs of the next 10 years.
This will ensure the 2 bodies work together to form a coherent national picture of where skills gaps exist and how they can be addressed.