Ed Woodall has been named the new chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, following James Lowman’s resignation in September last year.
Woodall will take up his new post on 1 March, when Lowman, who said it was time for change after 30 years with the organisation and 20 at its helm, officially departs.
Woodall joined the ACS in 2009 as a public affairs assistant, before moving up to lead the organisation’s policy work and political engagement programmes, then being given the role of head of government relations, and later government relations director. He read philosophy at the University of Surrey (Roehampton) and holds an MBA from Surrey Business School.
James Lowman welcomed Woodall’s appointment, describing him as “an outstanding leader” who is “perfectly equipped to take the organisation to the next level”, and has been “a key part of ACS’ work for the past 16 years”.
ACS chairman Phil Ponsonby said Woodal was appointed unanimously by the organisation’s board, and that he “has a clear vision which chimes with the ACS board: to make ACS the most effective voice, inclusive community and valuable resource possible”.
Woodhall himself remarked: “ACS is a powerful voice for the convenience industry and sits at the heart of a positive, future-thinking and passionate community of retailers and other businesspeople.
“I want to build on our past and lead these people and businesses into an exciting future where we can engage more people and achieve even greater influence over key policy issues on our members’ behalf. I am looking forward to continuing to work with the highly professional and effective team at ACS.”
