David Cooke is to succeed John Kinney as the chief executive of Unitas Wholesale at the start of next year.
Part of a planned succession process, Kinney will be moving into the position of chairman, which Dr Jason Wouhra OBE’s is stepping down from after three years in the role.
The leadership changes were announced at the buying groups’ conference. Kinney has been in the role for almost six years having previously led the sales and marketing operation at Unitas.
Cooke was appointed to the newly created role of chief operating officer last year and he was previously group commercial director at AF Blakemore. He said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of chief executive and very grateful for the confidence placed in me by John and the Board. Unitas has a strong and diverse membership, including some of the very best independent wholesalers in the UK, supported by a talented and committed central team.
Read more: Unitas Wholesale appoint David Cooke as COO
“Independent wholesale has a vital role to play in the UK supply chain, and Unitas has an important responsibility to help its members remain competitive, relevant and successful in a market that continues to change at pace. I look forward to working closely with our members, supplier partners and the Unitas team as we build on the strong foundations already in place, continue to develop our proposition and deliver the next phase of our strategy,” he added.
John Kinney said: “I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Unitas over the past six years. We have strengthened the organisation, developed our commercial proposition and continued to evolve the support we provide to members and supplier partners in a rapidly changing wholesale market.
“David joined Unitas a year ago as part of our succession planning and has made a significant impact. He has quickly built a strong understanding of the business, our membership and the opportunities ahead of us. I am delighted that he will take on the role of chief executive and am confident he is the right person to lead Unitas through its next chapter.
Dr Jason Wouhra OBE said: “It has been a real privilege to serve as chairman of Unitas and I have thoroughly enjoyed the role over the past three years. I am proud of the progress the organisation has made during that time and of the way the Board, leadership team and wider business have continued to strengthen Unitas on behalf of its members.
“Good succession planning is an important part of strong governance, and I believe these changes provide both continuity and a clear path for the next stage of Unitas’ development.”
