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.
The latest pub to open in East Kilbride is The Hay Stook owned by JD Wetherspoon. The £1.57 million development, on the site of former retail units in Princes Mall, in East Kilbride Shopping Centre will specialise in real ales as well as craft and world beers from local and regional brewers. The pub will be run by David McAuley who previously managed The John Fairweather, in Cambuslang.
Meanwhile a new Wetherspoon’s is planned for Largs and Edinburgh will also have a new Venue come the summer.
Donald Campbell, Sales Director at Inverarity Morton (IM), will take over from Peter Lederer of Diageo, as the new chairman of The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) in November.
SLTA President Paul Waterson commented, “We were delighted when Donald accepted our recent invitation to become The SLTA’s 56th Chairman and this will be a very popular choice. He is a man with immense experience in our industry, and is highly respected by all. I know Donald will bring his considerable expertise and enthusiasm to our Association and we thank his company, Inverarity Morton, for their support. I am sure this appointment will be highly beneficial for both parties. We are very much looking forward to working with Donald for the general good of our trade and The SLTA in particular,” he said.
While Donald Campbell said, “My chief priority will be to increase the current membership. The SLTA is a national, not-for-profit organisation that relies solely on support from the trade to function. It’s only as strong as the number of members it retains.”Married with two children, Campbell and his family own and manage two pubs: the Two Chimneys in Uddingston (since 2000), and The Lawburn, Cambuslang (since 2005).