Lisa Clifford joins SWA as membership engagement officer
SCOTTISH Wholesale Association (SWA) has appointed Lisa Clifford, a highly experienced marketing, planning, and business development professional, as its new membership engagement officer.
Lisa, who has a background in bar and restaurant management, joins the SWA from Tennent’s Lager owner C&C Group where she worked on customer marketing plans for the company’s premium brands portfolio, including the Italian beer Menabrea, across the UK.
Other roles at C&C included managing a team of sales executives representing C&C brands across all on-trade routes to market. Latterly Lisa’s role was to support strategy and marketing in national accounts across routes to market for Matthew Clark and Bibendum.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow, Lisa’s wide-ranging role at the SWA will see her work with wholesale and supplier members to help them leverage the industry support that is available to them as well as recruiting new members.
Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, said: “This is a key role for us and confirmation of our commitment to our members and the wider wholesale sector to work in partnership with them to grow their business in a challenging and ever-changing marketplace.
“Lisa’s extensive experience in customer-facing roles makes her ideally placed to engage with members and explain the many benefits of SWA membership to both wholesalers and suppliers.”
Commenting on her appointment, Lisa said: “I am excited to bring my enthusiasm for wholesale to serve the members of SWA where I believe our shared commitment to champion excellence in innovation, sustainability and training across the Scottish wholesale sector will see our members and organisation go from strength to strength.
“My background in bar and restaurant management in Scotland and south of the Border with both national businesses and independent operators means I am particularly well placed to working with drinks and foodservice suppliers to help them take advantage of the opportunity to grow their brands through partnerships with SWA members.
“However, my role extends across the entire food and drink wholesale sector, and I will also work closely with our members who supply Scotland’s 5,200 convenience stores as well as the 30,000 tourism, hospitality and leisure outlets, and public sector customers including schools, prisons and hospitals.”