Conviviality has appointed Mark Aylwin as managing director of Matthew Clark, the UK’s leading independent wholesaler and distributor of alcoholic beverages to the on trade market, which it acquired earlier this year.
Aylwin will replace Steve Thomson, who after 10 years as chief executive of Matthew Clark, has decided to step down from the role to pursue other interests.
Aylwin, who will take up his position in January, has been in the food and drinks industry for over 35 years and has worked in senior positions with a range of organisations including Booker Group Plc, Blueheath Plc, Safeway Plc and Musgrave Group.
He spent eight years at Booker, most recently as managing director of Booker Retail Partners (formerly Musgrave Retail Partners) where he had responsibility for Budgens and Londis.
Ian Smith Commercial Director Matthew Clark, who has contributed to the success of Matthew Clark over 37 years, will become deputy managing director, Matthew Clark with immediate effect.
Diana Hunter, chief executive 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.”
