Birchall Foodservice promotes Gill Smith to managing director

Birchall Foodservice has promoted Gill Smith to managing director. She replaces Justin Birchall, who has taken on the role of chief executive.

New managing director Gill Smith.

Smith has been with the wholesaler for 18 years. She started as an accounts assistant and climbed the ladder to her most recent position of finance director, which she held for eight-and-a-half years.

In addition, Birchall Foodservice has promoted Nicola Watson to commercial director. Watson has worked for the wholesaler for more than 20 years, beginning as business services manager before taking on the role of operations director in 2016.

Steve Chadwick has also been promoted – from regional sales manager to head of sales & marketing. He has been with the wholesaler for 11 years.

Birchall commented: “We are thrilled to announce these promotions within our leadership team. Gill, Nicola and Steve have each demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership skills, making them the perfect fit for their new positions. I am confident they will lead our business to new opportunities and further strengthen our position in the foodservice market.”

These three appointments form part of the company’s strategy to nurture homegrown talent and promote internally, and they follow the recent promotion of Andy Green from purchasing manager to buying director. Green joined the Country Range Group member in 2001 as a warehouse picker.