Former travel boss Alastair Campbell has been appointed Managing Director of WallacesTCB. The new appointment has been made following the news that Brian Calder, current CEO, is leaving the company in July.
Campbell, whose last appointment was Global Brand Director/Group Executive Director of Contiki Holidays, the youth-focussed travel operator, will be the first non-drinks related MD appointment at the company in more than 40 years and only the fourth person to hold the role since Angus Meldrum retired in October 2001. Mike Lees, who came from Bass Take-home, was MD from 2001 to 2011, his role was split into two with Steve Annand becoming Commercial MD, and John Gilligan, Sales MD, before John was named as Managing Director. Following the buyout of Wallaces Express by C&C in March 2014, Brian Calder, former MD of Wallaces, was appointed Chief Executive of the new-enlarged company, and John subsequently announced his retirement last October, although he has stayed on in a part-time role.
Brian has overseen the transition of the two companies into one, the rebranding of Tennent Caledonian Breweries into WallacesTCB, and the merger of the two sales forces.
Alastair’s appointment, which has come completely out of left field, follows a recruitment process which is believed to have started in January.
Says Alastair, “I’m thrilled to take up the MD role with such an iconic Scottish business”. He continues, “Two of my career passions are building strong commercial relationships and driving business growth. I look forward to bringing these skills and working with the team to shape the latest successful chapter in the history of the Tennent’s business in supporting our customers across Scotland.”
He describes himself as an “entrepreneurial, results-driven, senior executive. And one of his former colleagues said of him, “Inspiring and a dynamic natural leader who is revered by his direct reports.”
He graduated as a Chartered Accountant before attending The Scottish Hotel School and gaining a PgDip, Tourism & Hotel Management.