Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Biographical details
Hemant Patel was Director of Strategy and then Commercial Finance Director at the supermarket chain Asda Stores Ltd, part of the global retailer Wal-Mart Inc. He was born and educated in London before graduating from the University of Manchester having studied physics with astrophysics. He then moved into industry to train as a chartered management accountant.
He has worked at various multi-national companies including Mars Inc and SC Johnson in financial, commercial and marketing roles before moving with his family to Yorkshire to join Asda in 2003. At Asda, Hemant has carried out various roles in commercial finance functions as well as running Asdas own label business.
Hemant is also a trustee of Interplay Theatre, a Leeds based company using the arts to work with children in special schools nationally and socially excluded children locally. He was given the Arts and Business Individual of the Year award in 2007 for his work with this charity.