Donald Campbell, Sales Director at drinks distributor Inverarity Morton (IM), is to step back in his role after seven years with the company.
With a career spanning over 35 years in the licensed trade, the industry veteran has decided to focus on key account management as part of a planned soft retirement.
“I’ve been in this game a long long time and the game is changing more now than it ever has over the last three decades,” said Campbell (59).
“It’s been challenging but it’s also been incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud of what we have achieved as an independent business in this very competitive industry. I feel now that it’s absolutely the right time to recruit someone who can bring a new perspective, energy, experience and acumen to the opportunities that lie ahead.”
“I’m not ready to hang up my boots just yet!”
He added, “But there’s still life in these old bones and I’ll be continuing to look after our key accounts… I’m not ready to hang up my boots just yet!”
Campbell has also just ended a two-year tenure as Chair of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA).
He started his career in 1980 as the Sales Executive for the West of Scotland at JR Phillips (agents for Courvoisier cognac, Black Bottle whisky and Cointreau). He joined IM in 2009, after 20 years with Forth Wines. The subsequent purchase of Forth Wines by IM in 2013 closed the circle in a prolific career.
Campbell and his family also own and manage two pubs: Two Chimneys in Uddingston (since 2000), and The Lawburn, Cambuslang (since 2005).
With a turnover of £75m, IM is Scotland’s largest independent wines and spirits merchant and picked up Best Wine and Spirits Wholesaler of the Year at the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards in 2015 and again in 2016.