UPDATE 1-Terra Firma names ex-Sainsbury chief King as vice chairman

(Adds details, context)
Sept 8 (Reuters) - Justin King, the former chief executive
of British supermarket chain operator J Sainsbury (OTC:JSAIY) Plc SBRY.L ,
is joining Guy Hands' Terra Firma Capital Partners TERA.UL as
vice chairman, the UK private equity firm said.
King, who is credited with reviving Sainsbury's fortunes and
firming up its position as one of the top four grocers in the
UK, stepped down as Sainsbury's CEO last July amid much
speculation after a decade at the helm.
Under King, Sainsbury's clocked nine years of quarterly
sales growth.
King has since taken up advisory roles at some private
companies and even led the review of safety practices at Thomas
Cook TCG.L , after the holiday company made headlines over the
death of two children during one of its holidays.
Terra Firma said on Tuesday King would also lead its
portfolio businesses, which hold investments in sectors ranging
from healthcare to energy.
"This is a great fit for both sides ... Justin has turned
around and run businesses in various sectors. He will be able...
to drive forward Terra Firma's agenda with its existing
portfolio," Hands said in a statement.
Terra Firma, since its inception in 1994, has invested over
16 billion euros ($18 billion) in 33 businesses with an
aggregate enterprise value of over 48 billion euros, according
to its website.
The firm is planning to launch the sale of its European
cinema chain, Odeon & UCI Group, towards the end of this year.

Sky News, which was the first to report the appointment,
said King was likely to play a role in any future fundraising
efforts and help with the revival of the firm hurt by the
seizure of EMI Music in 2011 by Citigroup (NYSE:C). (http://bit.ly/1OsfZ1w)
King, a retail industry veteran, has worked at Marks and
Spencer Group Plc MKS.L and Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT) Inc's WMT.N
British arm, Asda WMTAS.UL .
Terra Firma also said it was promoting General Counsel Trudy
Cooke to the position of chief operating officer and Head of Tax
Dominic Spiri to the role of chief financial officer. ($1 =
0.8951 euros)