Scotmid chief takes chair at Scottish Retail Consortium – Daily Business

Karen Scott, chief executive of Scotmid, has taken over as chair of trade association, the Scottish Retail Consortium.

Ms Scott, who has worked in the sector for 38 years, succeeds Debbie Harding who served in the role since 2024.

“Retail is an imaginative and resilient industry which is responding positively to evolving market conditions and customer demand, said Ms Scott.

“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.

Ms Scott became chief executive at Scotmid in 2024. Prior to this she was chief operating officer and previously head of Semichem.

Headquarted at Newbridge, near Edinburgh, Scotmid Co-operative operates around 250 retail outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, including Scotmid Food, Semichem, and Lakes & Dales Co-operative.

Ms Scott is an existing member of the SRC’s board. She will be the second female to chair the organisation since it formed in 1999 and will work with the 14-member board and director David Lonsdale to champion the retail industry and enhance its prospects for growth

Mr Lonsdale described Ms Scott as an “outstanding industry leader”, adding: “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.”