The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has announced that Phil Ponsonby will become its next Chair, following on from Ramesh Shingadia, who completes his two-year term in November. SPAR retailer Susan Connolly will take on the position of Vice Chair, alongside Booker Retail MD Colm Johnson.
Ponsonby took up the role of CEO for the Midcounties Co-operative in August 2018, having originally joined to run its food retail business in 2015. Prior to joining The Midcounties Co-op, he was at the Southern Co-operative, where he was Chief Operating Officer for seven years. He currently acts as vice chair (People and Culture) for ACS, and is a Director for Federal Retail Trading Services Ltd, which binds the relationship between the UK’s co-operatives involved in food retail.
Ponsonby said: “It has been my privilege to have partnered with the ACS for over 15 years, serving on the Board for nine of those years. I am immensely proud to have been elected by the Board as its new Chair.
“As the voice of some 50,000 shops up and down the length of the UK, representing and championing them at the heart of Government, the role of the ACS has never been more important. We will continue to use our collective strength to face into the regulatory and economic headwinds faced by our members, but will also continue to learn from each other and the suppliers to our industry as we embrace new opportunities through product and technological developments.”
Earlier this month, ACS announced that its long-serving Chief Executive, James Lowman, will leave the organisation early next year.
Shingadia commented: “On behalf of myself and the entire ACS Board, I am delighted to welcome Phil Ponsonby as the new Chair of ACS from early November 2025. Phil has been a valued member of our Board for over a decade, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to the convenience retail sector.
“As CEO of Midcounties Co-operative, Phil has led one of the UK’s most respected co-operative societies through significant challenges and delivered growth and diversification that reflect the strength of his leadership. These achievements and his long-standing contribution to ACS make him ideally placed to guide the organisation into its next chapter. Phil’s chairmanship will also be instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition following James Lowman’s departure as chief executive early next year. With the support of the Board, he will play a key role in securing a strong successor to build on James’s outstanding work and continue ACS’s mission to champion and support convenience retailers.”
Lowman added: “These appointments show the diversity of organisation and the depth of talent represented on the ACS board and in our wider membership. These three industry leaders will make sure ACS becomes ever stronger and more relevant to the whole industry. I am excited to work with them in the coming months, and the next ACS chief executive will be fortunate to be able to draw on their considerable experience and skill.”
NAM Implications:
- Given his background, including proximity and familiarity with the most pressing issues…
- …the new chair should hit the ground running.
- Together, the new Board leadership should be able to help ACS face the regulatory and economic headwinds faced by its members.
- Fingers crossed…
