SPAR Scotland partner C J Lang is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Rogers and Sonya Harper to its Executive Board.

Louise Rogers joins on 15 June 2020 as the new HR Director taking over from John Connolly who retires in July following fifteen years at the business. Rogers is a Chartered Fellow CIPD and CEO of Human Resources Intelligence. 

She formerly worked as HR Director at Alliance Trust Savings and as Head of HR at Axcess Financial Europe as well as holding senior HR roles with NCR, Raytheon and HSBC. She brings a wealth of HR experience to SPAR Scotland and will also take up the role of Company Secretary working with the Main Board.  

Sonya Harper, who joined C J Lang as Head of Central Operations & Process Improvement in 2019, has been promoted to Central Operations Director in recognition of her significant contribution to the development of the company in terms of its business communication, processes and stock management improvements.

Harper was with Scotmid from 1996 until 2019 where she developed her career from store management through to Productivity Analyst, Operations Support Manager and then for a number of years as Central Operations Manager before joining CJ Lang. Harper will take up her new role from 15 June 2020.

Colin McLean, CEO of C J Lang and Son Ltd, said: “I congratulate both Louise and Sonya on their appointments. The SPAR convenience business in Scotland has transformed over the past few years, and I look forward to welcoming them to the Board and seeing the positive changes and direction they will bring to the business.

“I would like to thank John Connolly for his commitment and the integral role he has played in the C J Lang business over the last fifteen years. On behalf of the Shareholders and the Board of C J Lang, I congratulate him on his well-earned, upcoming retirement.”

Source: SPAR Scotland

About SPAR UK

The UK became a member of SPAR in 1956 when a group of independent wholesalers was granted the SPAR licence by SPAR International. There are five regional partners in the UK with strategically placed Distribution Centres in each region. A central office, located in London, provides national marketing and buying services for the group and supports the development of the brand.

SPAR has led the convenience market in the UK for many years but has faced increasing competition. Always innovative, the five regional partners have continued to grow the brand. Throughout the UK, a combination of independently-owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores can be found, spanning forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres, and local neighbourhoods.