Tim Fallowfield OBE

Career Roles

Board Experience

  • CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTOR, SAINSBURY’S SUPERMARKETS LTD
  • NED, GOVERNMENT LEGAL DEPARTMENT
  • TRUSTEE, SAVE THE CHILDREN
  • CHAIR, THE SAINSBURY ARCHIVE
  • CHAIR, DISABILITY CONFIDENT BUSINESS LEADERS GROUP
  • NED, BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM

Overview

Tim Fallowfield was a Director on Sainsbury’s Executive Board for 20 years before he retired in 2024, having joined the business as Company Secretary and General Counsel in 2001. During that time, he led Sainsbury’s Corporate Services Division comprising risk management, governance, legal and regulatory functions, including the cyber/information security, insurance, safety and public affairs teams.

Before joining Sainsbury’s, Tim was Legal Director and Company Secretary at the global supply chain business Exel plc between 1994-2001 and oversaw the merger with Ocean Group plc in 2000. He began his career at Magic Circle global law firm Clifford Chance.

In his portfolio career, Tim is a Certified Coach. He is a Non-Executive Director at the Government Legal Department and chairs the Talent and Remuneration Committee. He is a Trustee of Save the Children and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. He also chairs the Sainsbury Archive.

Tim has deep experience of Boardrooms for over 25 years, both as an Executive Director and Non-Executive Director, and in ensuring that the Board is effective and that each director is able to make their best contribution. He has worked with high profile Chairs, CEOs and Non-Executive Director’s on boardroom culture, succession and practical governance.

Tim was Sainsbury’s Board Sponsor for Disability and Carers for over 10 years, and a member of the Board’s DE&I Steering Group, as Sainsbury’s became a recognised leader in disability inclusion. He was awarded the Senior Leader for Disability by the Business Disability Forum in 2019. In 2016, he was appointed by the Disability Minister to establish and chair the Business Leaders Group which advised the DWP and Government on its strategy for the employment of disabled people, and on the flagship Disability Confident Scheme. He was awarded an OBE for Services to Disability Awareness in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List.

Tim is married to Alison and has two children. He loves hiking, the theatre, gardening and travel, and watching football, rugby and cricket.