Ocado Group

Tim Steiner is a British entrepreneur and business leader best known as the co-founder and CEO of Ocado Group. Before launching the business, Steiner spent eight years at Goldman Sachs in the fixed-income division, working in London, New York and Hong Kong. In 2000, he left investment banking with two colleagues to create Ocado (initially named L.M. Solutions) with a vision to overhaul grocery retailing through digital delivery and automation.

Under Steiner’s leadership, Ocado has transformed from its UK online grocery roots into a global technology company. The business developed its proprietary Ocado Smart Platform (OSP) and now licenses web-shop, warehouse automation and logistics systems to major retailers worldwide – positioning itself as much a tech and logistics company as a grocer. Steiner’s emphasis on technology, scalability and global partnerships has driven many of the company’s strategic moves, including joint ventures and licensing deals in Europe, North America and beyond.

He is recognised for fostering a culture of innovation, aiming to build a lasting platform rather than just a retail brand. Despite facing challenges – including intense competition, execution risks and investor scrutiny – Steiner remains at the helm and oversees the company’s evolution in an industry undergoing rapid change. Through his career, he exemplifies the shift from traditional retail to digitally enabled, data-driven platforms.