John Walden

John Carl Walden (born 7 January 1960) is an American businessman and served as chief executive or chairman of several U.S. and U.K.-based consumer businesses including Home Retail Group, Holland & Barrett, Snowfox Group and Motorpoint Group.

Early life Walden was born near Chicago, Illinois. He received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1986, his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1994, and his B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois in 1983.

Career In 1990, Walden began his retail career as chief operating officer of Peapod. In 1999, he joined Best Buy as the president of its Internet and direct channels division. He then became the company's executive vice president of human capital and leadership and, subsequently, the executive vice president of its Customer Business Group. and was promoted to chief executive officer of Argos' parent company, Home Retail Group in March 2014. In 2016, it was announced that Walden would be stepping down as the CEO of Home Retail Group upon sale of the group to Sainsbury's.

In March 2017 Walden was hired by FTD Companies Inc. to assist in the turnaround of this U.S. based floral and gifting business. November 2018, Walden was hired as executive chairman of Holland & Barrett Ltd, the U.K.'s largest independent health and wellness retailer. In 2019, it was announced that Walden would be hired as chairman of Majestic Wine. He later served as chairman of Naked Wines plc after the de-merger of Majestic Wines. Walden has also served as chairman of Snowfox Group (formerly YO Sushi), an international food business; ScS Group plc, a U.K.-based furniture retailer; and Motorpoint Group plc., a U.K.-based omnichannel used car retailer.

Personal life Walden has five children and lives in Chicago.