John Lewis executive joins Waitrose supplier Aquascot
Waitrose salmon supplier Aquascot has appointed a new chairman, Simon Fowler. The executive has spent 34 years at John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose.
Fowler succeeds Charlie Bullock, one of three founders of Ross-shore-based Aquascot.
“Aquascot are immensely grateful to Charlie for his many years of service, and we look forward to working with him further in his role as managing director of Bay Food Group – the ready-meal company comprising of brands Highland Bay Seafoods, The Scottish Food Company and Highland Cookhouse – operating under the umbrella of Aquascot Trust,” said Aquascot in an article on its website today.
Employee-owned
Both Aquascot and John Lewis Partnership are employee-owned, and Fowler is a former chair of the Employee Ownership Association (2011-2020), giving him experience in the running of employee-owned businesses.
Fowler has held numerous senior roles with John lewis, including as managing director of both London flagship department stores John Lewis Oxford Street and Peter Jones. Most recently he was group director of communications.
Dennis Overton, chair of Aquascot Trust, said: “I am delighted Simon has been appointed to the role following a detailed process involving a number of partners from around the Aquascot business.”
A model business
Fowler said: “It is a great honour to be asked to succeed Charlie as the chairman of the Aquascot board. I am a passionate believer in employee ownership: partners working together for each other’s wellbeing with the confidence to invest for the long-term and a focus on delivering innovation and continuous improvement in a rapidly changing world.
“I am therefore delighted to be joining Aquascot as one of the largest employee-owned businesses in Scotland and working with partners to ensure it remains a model of a better way to do business, delivering high quality and responsibly sourced products.”
