McGhee’s mixes Gen Z duo into senior roles

Investing in the next generation at McGhee’s Bakery

SCOTTISH bakery firm McGhee’s has invested in the next generation of workers as it has promoted two members of staff under 30 into senior leadership roles.

In a move that reaffirms the business’ commitment to fostering talent with its staff within the business, 28-year-old Jessica Richmond has been appointed as the new group head of HR, whilst Gordon Moon (27) has moved into the head of engineering position.

Their progressions come amid a significant growth period for the company. McGhee’s recorded a 10% growth in turnover last year, rising to a worth of £53.7million and was named Scotland’s No.1 Scottish bakery brand by Worldpanel by Numerator research.

Richmond first joined the business in 2020 on a work placement experience. She said: “When I first joined, there was only one person in the HR team. Because there was so much going on, I was thrown in at the deep end. It was without a doubt the best way to learn.

“Now, as the team has grown so quickly, there’s been an increasing focus on HR and we are currently rolling out a new system to prepare us for the next period of growth. 

“I am so proud to step into this role. Trust is massive in any workplace, but that’s especially true in a family business. They value attitude over age: people who genuinely care about the business and are willing to work hard.”

Meanwhile, Gordon Moon joined the Glaswegian bakery firm in May 2024 as a bakery engineer and was promoted into his current position just over a year later. Now 27, he leads a seven-strong team responsible for maintaining production equipment for the firm.

Moon said: “We have a huge variety of individual machines across different production lines running 24/7, so no two days are the same.

“It’s a big responsibility, but in many ways, it feels like what I was born to do! The directors are on the floor all day, every day. Seeing that level of commitment makes you want to match it.”

Speaking on the pair, Aisling McGhee, commercial director at McGhee’s, said: “As a family business, we don’t have the kind of structured graduate schemes or clearly defined career ladders you’d find in large corporations, so we have to think differently about how we attract and retain talented people.

“That means placing a real emphasis on trust and opportunity. By giving people meaningful responsibility early on, we allow them to grow with the business and develop a genuine sense of ownership.

“Jessica and Gordon exemplify that approach. Both have shown real pride in the business, a strong work ethic and a willingness to take responsibility, and their progression into senior leadership roles reflects the trust they’ve earned.”