World Travel Market 2013, the leading global event for the travel industry, will this year be opened by Sir Stuart Rose, one of the business world’s most respected leaders.

Former Marks & Spencer chief executive and chairman, Rose led a turnaround of one of the UK high street’s most well-known brands and fought off a number of high profile take over bids for the retailer.

He will open World Travel Market 2013 at the new-look WTM Captains of Industry Opening Lunch, with 200 of the industry’s most senior leaders in attendance.

Veteran BBC presenter Stephen Sackur will interview Sir Stuart about his career in business, which will offer the travel industry senior industry audience inspiration and practical advice as to how they can run their own businesses.

Sir Stuart started as a management trainee at Marks & Spencer.

He spent seventeen years there before moving on to become Burton Group chief executive.

Rose then became chief executive of Argos and Booker before being appointed as chief executive of the Arcadia Group in 2000.

The company was in financial difficulties but he turned the business around and presided over its sale two years later to Sir Philip Green.

He returned to M&S in 2004 as chief executive, successfully fighting off take over bids from Green. 

Sir Stuart is currently chairman of online delivery company Ocado.

Reed Travel Exhibitions, director, World Travel Market, Simon Press said: “I delighted Sir Stuart Rose has agreed to open World Travel Market 2013.

“WTM 2013 is poised to be the biggest and best yet with a number of new initiatives taking place including The Travel Tech Show at WTM, A Taste of ILTM at WTM and the co-location of fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions event Business Travel Market.”