Mark Aylwin has been appointed Managing Director of Matthew Clark, following Steve Thomson’s decision, after 10 years as CEO, to step down from the role.
The news comes only three months after Conviviality Plc’s acquisition of Matthew Clark.
Mark, who has been in the food and drinks industry for over 35 years, was most recently Managing Director of Booker Retail Partners where he had responsibility for Budgens and Londis. Prior to that Mark was the MD of Booker Direct, the delivered wholesale business of Booker, which included Booker Direct, Chef Direct, Ritter Courivaud and Classic Drinks. Mark was also a member of the Board of Booker Group Plc. He will join Matthew Clark in January 2016.
Meanwhile Ian Smith, Commercial Director at Matthew Clark, has been promoted to Deputy Managing Director, with immediate effect. Ian has been with Matthew Clark for 37 years.
Diana Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of Conviviality Plc, said,“I am delighted to appoint Mark as Managing Director of our Matthew Clark business. He has a wealth of experience in food and drink wholesale and is ideally placed to develop the Matthew Clark business with our customers and suppliers.
“I am pleased with the progress we have made since the acquisition and the integration is ahead of plan. The key hires required to deliver our synergies are in place ahead of plan and all the teams in both businesses are working well together.
“I would also like to thank Steve Thomson for his contribution to Matthew Clark. Over the past 10 years Steve has led the business and has presided over a period of significant growth. Steve was integral throughout the recent acquisition process while also ensuring that customers continued to receive the high level of service that they had come to expect from Matthew Clark. I am delighted that Steve will continue to work with our business on a consultancy basis for a period of time on a number of key projects and wish him well for the future.”
Mark Aylwin, MD of Matthew Clark said, “I am delighted to be joining Conviviality Plc at this exciting time in the Company’s development. Matthew Clark is a great business and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to drive growth, whilst delivering outstanding customer service to the on-trade.”