New Chair of Scottish Retail Consortium announced
Karen Scott has been announced as the new Chair of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), taking over from Debbie Harding, who has been in the position since 2024.
Scott, who is CEO of independent co-operative Scotmid, officially took over the reins on 1 August.
“Scotland’s retail industry makes an enormous economic and social contribution and its presence is felt in communities across the country,” said Scott.
“Retail is an imaginative and resilient industry which is responding positively to evolving market conditions and customer demand. However, this remains a testing time for the industry. Global factors and ever-increasing demands from policy makers are impacting operating costs, which have implications in terms of future employment, the vitality of our town and city centres, and the overall health of the sector.
“With all that in mind I am looking forward to supporting and building on the excellent work that Debbie oversaw,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the SRC’s director David Lonsdale added: “I’m thrilled Karen has agreed to take on the role of SRC Chair. She is an outstanding industry leader and will bring those skills to support the work of the SRC in advocating on behalf of its members and the customers they serve.
“I would like to pay huge thanks to Debbie Harding for the very significant contribution she has made to the Board over the past five years and latterly as Chair.”
The Scottish Retail Consortium is the lead trade association for retail industry, which is Scotland’s largest private sector employer with 228,000 colleagues.
