Following a long battle with cancer, Today’s Group managing director Bill Laird, 54, has passed away.

With an inscrutable face that hid a wicked sense of humour, Laird (pictured) joined what was then Scunthorpe-based Nisa-Today’s in 2009 as the replacement for long-serving managing director Rodney Hunt.

He spent his formative years in Dundee, where his father ran a grocery shop. That gave him a taste for the food trade, although he had wanted to become a graphic designer.

Before his career began in earnest, he worked as a trainee manager for the former retail multiple Wm Low. He also spent some time with Asda, Texas Homecare, Woolworths and Somerfield.

After that, most of his career was devoted to the Midcounties Co-operative, where he became chief operating officer.

Laird was largely instrumental in the 2012 demerger of Nisa and Today’s and the formation of Today’s Group at its present home in Doncaster.

He leaves a widow Dawn and three children, Alexander, Aletia and Emelia.

Pending the selection of a new head of Today’s Group, John Schofield continues as acting managing director of operating company Today’s Wholesale Services.

Tel: Today’s Group (08440) 247 0700