To ensure it remains fit for the future, Unitas Wholesale is evolving its board leadership structure to better reflect the diversity of its membership and drive its collective strength and agility.
After a successful first year that has seen the launch of a ‘more for more’ membership structure and new execution-based initiatives such as Picture Portal, in a move that has been planned since the merger the original board of 16 members is to be slimmed down to 12.
Across the 12, the new structure ensures a cross section of members within retail, foodservice, on trade and specialist member categories. To facilitate this critical diversity agreed by all the board, four members offered to resign their positions. These were Regal Wholesale, JW Gray and Co, East End Foods and Time Wholesale and the board thank them wholeheartedly for their contribution. While the new board does represent the Unitas membership, it also recognises the need for further diversity so with immediate effect all board meetings will have a senior female member director attending to provide insight and input and promote a pipeline of future female applicants for 2020 and beyond.
The key leadership position of chairman is also to change as planned at the end of January 2020, when Sam Wilcox retires from his position and Simon Hannah, Managing Director, JW Filshill, takes up the role having been elected by the board.
“I’m honoured and excited to be taking on the role of chairman of Unitas,” said Simon. “There is a lot of ambition and energy within our membership and a lot of talent and experience within our board and execs. Our first very successful year has created an excellent platform for our members and suppliers to accelerate our growth together.”
Darren Goldney, Managing Director, Unitas says: “The role of Unitas is to champion independent business and champion brand partners. We are better served in doing that when our leadership team can be representative and nimble and this critical part of our evolution will help us on our journey to be a first choice partner.”
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