Scotmid boss takes on role with trade firm
THE Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has announced that Scotmid chief executive Karen Scott has taken on the role at its new chairperson.
Scott took on the role on 1 August and has become the second female chair of the trade organisation after succeeding Debbie Harding, who took on the role in 2024.
In recent years, Scott has been heavily involved with the retail trade and became the chief executive officer at Scotmid in 2024. Prior to this, she was chief operating officer for the society and previously head of Semichem.
Scott is now set to work with the 14-person board at the SRC as well as director David Lonsdale to help champion the retail industry across the country and support its growth in the process.
Speaking on her new appointment, Scott said: “Scotland’s retail industry makes an enormous economic and social contribution and its presence is felt in communities across the country.
“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 has 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. The SRC is at the forefront of bringing retail’s story to policymakers, encouraging a more coherent approach to help the industry address its challenges. I look forward to helping ensure the sector continues to have a strong voice.”
David Lonsdale said: “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. She has been a brilliant servant of the industry through remarkably active times for the SRC, overseeing and guiding our efforts through the post-pandemic period, costs crunch, and political changes.”
