The owner of newsagents’ chain RS McColl has announced that its long-serving chief operating officer is to stand down after 23 years with the company.
McColl’s Retail Group– which operates under the McColl’s and Martin’s brands south of the border – said it had no plans to replace Dave Thomas, who will leave his role immediately. He will remain as a consultant to the company until its annual general meeting on 6 April.
Chief executive Jonathan Miller said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Dave for the enormous contribution he has made to the company during his time here. Over the years he has played an important role in helping to build McColl’s into a leading convenience retailer and we wish Dave all the very best for the future.”
Thomas added: “It has been a privilege to work at McColl’s and after 23 years now is the right time for me to step back. I would like to thank the board and all the many colleagues I have worked with during my time here, and I wish everyone at McColl’s the very best for the future.”
McColl’s traces its roots back to 1901, when the Scotland international footballer Robert Smyth McColl opened his first shop in Glasgow. Entrepreneur James Lancaster listed the group on the stock market in 2014 and the company now has more than 1,500 stores across Scotland, England and Wales.
