FWD signs up additional mentors for mentoring scheme

Following higher-than-expected demand for its new mentoring scheme, the FWD has signed up additional industry executives to share their experience and expertise with young colleagues.

The volunteers will work with members of the FWD’s Future Leaders Forum (FLF) on a one-to-one basis, with a minimum of four online sessions over the next 12 months. The organisation has already confirmed 18 pairings.

Members of the Future Leaders Forum at the recent FWD conference.

FWD chief executive James Bielby commented: “It’s set to be a great opportunity for our new Future Leaders – and we hope there will be an element of ‘reverse mentoring’ in there too. A lot can be learnt from fresh talent.”

The recently-established FLF gives a voice to up-and-coming leaders working for both wholesalers and suppliers in the wholesale sector. The group currently has 40 members and is designed to build the skills, knowledge and confidence of ambitious individuals within the FWD membership who are age 30 or under.

The mentors are: James Russell of AF Blakemore; Andrew Selley of Bidcorp; Gary Mullineux of Caterforce; Mikey Billingham of Cereal Partners; Tom Gittins of Confex; Sue Knowles and Dominic Flanagan of Costco; Clare Bocking of DCS Group; Steve Jeavons of Fairway Foodservice; Coral Rose and James Bielby of FWD; Cathal Geoghegan of Henderson Foodservice; Elit Rowland of JJ Foodservice; Andrew Lynas of Lynas Foodservice; Andrew Pheasant of Suntory; Tanya Pepin of TWC; John Kinney of Unitas; and Pete Bolger and Damian McLoughlin of Upfield.

Bielby added: “We are delighted to be able to offer this service to help the next generation of wholesale leaders realise their full potential, and form strong and lasting relationships with the senior executives who have been on the same journey themselves.”