Senior food industry appointments: Food Standards Scotland, Britvic and the Cold Chain Federation

New board members at Food Standards Scotland

Watchdog Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has announced the appointment of four new board members – Christina Bichan, Paula Charlesworth, Philip Couser and Kate Richards.

Couser took up the role on 12 November 2022, while Richards, Bichan and Charlesworth began their tenure in April 2023. All four will serve in their roles for four years.

Commenting on her appointment, former Defra veterinary advisor and farm vet Richards said: “FSS’s vision of a safe, healthy and sustainable food environment that benefits and protects the health and wellbeing of everyone in Scotland resonates very strongly with my values and beliefs.”​

The FSS April board meeting also saw Alban Denton appointed as deputy chair for a two-year term.

Heather Kelman, chair of the FSS board, commented: “I am extremely pleased with the quality of candidates who put themselves forward during the recruitment process and believe we have found excellent new board members, who will really help to shape the work we are involved in going forward.​

“The four new members will bring a range of perspectives to the organisation, complementing the skills and experience of the existing board members and hopefully filling some of the gaps we shall experience when our three founding board members step down.”​

Britvic appoints new general counsel

Mollie Stoker has joined drinks giant Britvic as its new general counsel and company secretary, effective from July 2023.

She succeeds Clare Thomas, who leaves the business to pursue a career with Whitbread after ten years with the drinks firm.

Formerly deputy general counsel for online retailer Ocado, Stoker has extensive knowledge of the soft drinks industry after spending five years in senior legal and business development roles at Suntory.

Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am excited to be joining Britvic plc at this stage of the company’s ambitious performance and growth agenda. The company is determined to make a net positive impact for people and planet, as well as financial performance, which I personally find particularly inspiring, and I am looking forward to being part of Britvic team.”​

Britvic chief executive Simon Litherland welcomed Thomas to the team and thanked Thomas for her contribution to the business.

“Having started her career at Slaughter & May and gone on to both Suntory and Ocado, Mollie brings a wealth of commercial legal experience, is adept at advising Boards and Executive teams, and has a demonstrable ability to lead and inspire the people around her,”​ said Litherland.

Paul Bennell elected CCF president

Samworth Brothers Supply Chain managing director Paul Bennell has been elected president of the Cold Chain Federation (CCF).

Effective immediately, Bennell will lead the organisation’s board as it works to support new opportunities for, and address the challenges facing, the UK’s temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry.

He follows Tim Moran as CCF president, who stepped down after seven years in the role during which he oversaw the federation’s leadership change, strategic review and rebrand.

“I am delighted to be elected President of the Cold Chain Federation and I look forward to working with the Board, the staff team and the federation’s members as we support the industry for today and for the longer-term,”​ said Bennell.

“The Cold Chain Federation has really come to the ore over the past few years, delivering a powerful and constructive voice for our industry when we have needed it the most. It has also built a more diverse membership base with companies joining from across the main product and temperature regime supply chains that make up UK cold chain.​