Association of Convenience Stores Names New Chief Executive
04 Oct 2006
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has today announced the appointment of James Lowman as Chief Executive. He will leave his current role as Director of Public Affairs at ACS on November 1st and take up his new appointment with immediate effect.
James Lowman, 31, joined ACS in March 1997. He has been at the forefront of the organisation’s lobbying of government on behalf of convenience stores, ensuring the future growth of the sector. He replaces retiring Chief Executive David Rae.
Well known and highly respected in the convenience retail market, James Lowman started his career in market research. At ACS he initially took responsibility for regulatory work and political representation of the sector becoming a frequent visitor to Parliament, political party conferences and within the different government departments. He was appointed Public Affairs and Communications Manager in 2000, and has headed up a number of high profile political campaigns, including the referral of the grocery market to the Competition Commission, the successful opposition to Sunday Trading hours extension and the introduction of the No ID No Sale message relating to sales of alcohol to minors. James achieved an MBA in 2005.
“I am passionate about the sector, and what ACS has achieved so far,” said James Lowman. “My overriding intention is to tackle the difficult issues that the sector faces head on, and make ACS even more visible as the champion of the convenience retailer. I am delighted to be offered the role as Chief Executive and determined that ACS will become indispensable to our sector under my direction.”
The ACS board which was responsible for shortlisting and selecting the new Chief Executive, has also announced that Mike Greene will be taking up a new role as Chairman. He will replace existing Chairman, Mike Sherwood, who has chaired ACS through two of its most successful years. In addition to fulfilling the constitutional duties of the Chairman, Mike Greene will also act as an advisor to James Lowman, initially for a period of one year.
Mike Greene, 41, is an industry veteran and in 2004 he was nominated as one of the 5 most influential people in the UK Convenience retailing industry. As well as his involvement with ACS, he is also a former Chairman and current board member of the Association of News Retailing. He will continue in his current role as CEO of him! where he has overseen the long-term tracking of consumer trends and activities throughout all retail sectors, and in particular the superstore and c-store sectors.
Mike Greene said: “I have been involved with ACS for over 10 years and have been a fervent ambassador for the sector. I look forward to working with James to ensure we build on the organisation’s success.”
Jerry Marwood, who is Vice-Chairman at ACS and led the recruitment committee, commented: “ACS is at a crucial point in its history, and we have appointed a new Chief Executive and Chairman who can drive our mission forwards with dynamism and a real understanding of the issues that affect our sector. We have a huge amount of confidence in James Lowman, and we expect that with James leading the organisation and with Mike as Chairman tangible rewards will be reaped for ACS and its members.”
Mr Marwood added: “The ACS Board is extremely grateful to our departing Chief Executive David Rae, who since 2001 has presided over a period of great success for the Association. We also wish to thank the outgoing Chairman Mike Sherwood, who has given up an enormous amount of his time to lead the Board with passion and energy for the past two years.”
Contacts
James Lowman – Director of Public Affairs
01252 515001 / 07801 831 772
Michael Saxton / Julie Kirby – Grappa
020 7486 4448
James Lowman, 31, joined ACS in March 1997. He has been at the forefront of the organisation’s lobbying of government on behalf of convenience stores, ensuring the future growth of the sector. He replaces retiring Chief Executive David Rae.
Well known and highly respected in the convenience retail market, James Lowman started his career in market research. At ACS he initially took responsibility for regulatory work and political representation of the sector becoming a frequent visitor to Parliament, political party conferences and within the different government departments. He was appointed Public Affairs and Communications Manager in 2000, and has headed up a number of high profile political campaigns, including the referral of the grocery market to the Competition Commission, the successful opposition to Sunday Trading hours extension and the introduction of the No ID No Sale message relating to sales of alcohol to minors. James achieved an MBA in 2005.
“I am passionate about the sector, and what ACS has achieved so far,” said James Lowman. “My overriding intention is to tackle the difficult issues that the sector faces head on, and make ACS even more visible as the champion of the convenience retailer. I am delighted to be offered the role as Chief Executive and determined that ACS will become indispensable to our sector under my direction.”
The ACS board which was responsible for shortlisting and selecting the new Chief Executive, has also announced that Mike Greene will be taking up a new role as Chairman. He will replace existing Chairman, Mike Sherwood, who has chaired ACS through two of its most successful years. In addition to fulfilling the constitutional duties of the Chairman, Mike Greene will also act as an advisor to James Lowman, initially for a period of one year.
Mike Greene, 41, is an industry veteran and in 2004 he was nominated as one of the 5 most influential people in the UK Convenience retailing industry. As well as his involvement with ACS, he is also a former Chairman and current board member of the Association of News Retailing. He will continue in his current role as CEO of him! where he has overseen the long-term tracking of consumer trends and activities throughout all retail sectors, and in particular the superstore and c-store sectors.
Mike Greene said: “I have been involved with ACS for over 10 years and have been a fervent ambassador for the sector. I look forward to working with James to ensure we build on the organisation’s success.”
Jerry Marwood, who is Vice-Chairman at ACS and led the recruitment committee, commented: “ACS is at a crucial point in its history, and we have appointed a new Chief Executive and Chairman who can drive our mission forwards with dynamism and a real understanding of the issues that affect our sector. We have a huge amount of confidence in James Lowman, and we expect that with James leading the organisation and with Mike as Chairman tangible rewards will be reaped for ACS and its members.”
Mr Marwood added: “The ACS Board is extremely grateful to our departing Chief Executive David Rae, who since 2001 has presided over a period of great success for the Association. We also wish to thank the outgoing Chairman Mike Sherwood, who has given up an enormous amount of his time to lead the Board with passion and energy for the past two years.”
Contacts
James Lowman – Director of Public Affairs
01252 515001 / 07801 831 772
Michael Saxton / Julie Kirby – Grappa
020 7486 4448