PETER Marks believes that out of the many deals he has led in his five year reign as chief executive of the Co-operative Group, his first was the most important.

Mr Marks, 62, says the 2007 merger of Stoke-based United Co-operatives with the long-established Co-operative Group revitalised the the co-operative movement and provided the foundations for the other major investments and transactions which have been made since then.

The Bradford-born executive began his career in 1967 when he joined what bec......for the full story register now for free or login below...