Conviviality appoints new Matthew Clark MD

Leading off licence and convenience store group Conviviality Retail has named Mark Aylwin as managing director of Matthew Clark, effective January 2016.

Mark Aylwin will take up the position of managing director for Matthew Clark from January 2016

Aylwin will replace Steve Thomson, who served as CEO of Matthew Clark for 10 years and is stepping down to pursue other interests.

Ian Smith, Matthew Clark commercial director, will take up the position of deputy managing editor with immediate effect.

“I am delighted to appoint Mark as managing director of our Matthew Clark business,” said Diana Hunter, Conviviality CEO. “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 please 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.”

Aylwin boasts more than 35 years working in the food and drinks industry, including numerous senior positions at Booker, Blueheath, Safeway and Musgrave.

He was with Booker for eight years, most recently as managing director of Booker Retail Partners where he was in charge of Budgens and Londis.

Hunter continued to thank Thomson for his contribution to Matthew Clark over the last 10 years, having “presided over a period of significant growth”.

“Steve was integral throughout the recent acquisition proves 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.”

Conviviality Retail acquired Matthew Clark in September this year in a deal worth £200 million.