Trustees

TONY SMITH

CHAIRMAN OF TRUSTEES

Tony joined Unilever 25 years ago when the company acquired Brooke Bond.  He is currently Customer Development Director of Unilever UK Ltd and has been involved with Caravan for 6 years.

MIKE BOWEN


Mike has been in the industry for more than 47 years!  He joined Mace as sales promotion manager and rose to the post of Chief Executive in 1995. He has also been Chairman of the Association of Convenience Stores and Director of the Institute of Grocery Distribution.  Currently Mike is a director and consultant to a number of companies, all of whom specialise in the small store sector.

 BART DALLA MURA

Bart has been involved in the grocery trade for nearly 20 years. He has held sales and marketing roles in a variety of businesses, including soft drinks, pet food and software & baking.  Bart became more involved with Caravan when he joined the Presdent's Fund Raising Committee in 2005.

JUDITH BATCHELAR

Judith is a director of Sainsbury’s brand and has worked in the industry for 27 years, both in manufacturing and retailing working for Bass, Mars, Marks & Spencer and Safeway before joining Sainsburys. She is also a biochemist and nutritionist by profession and takes an active role in public health matters.

DAVID BIRRELL

David joined Unilever 20 years ago from the accountancy profession and has held a number of positions across Unilever.  David has recently joined McCurrach in Scotland. He has been actively involved in several Caravan events and is also a member of the President’s Fund Raising Committee.

NIGEL MATTHEWS

Nigel retired from J Sainsbury plc in 2001 after 25 years as Company Secretary. During his career he was heavily involved with the industry’s trade associations and relations with government. He was awarded the OBE in June 2000 for services to food retailing. He has been a Trustee of Caravan since February 2003 and is Chair of the Welfare Strategy Committee. Amongst his other activities Nigel is a governor of the University of Hertfordshire and of a primary school in Welwyn Garden City.

WENDY MAYALL

Wendy has been Chief Investment Officer of the Unilever Pension Fund since 1996. Wendy was appointed a Trustee of Caravan in 2003, and she is also a Director of the children’s charity New Ways.

TONY PAINE

Tony joined Waitrose in 1968. After holding branch managers posts, he was appointed to the position of a Group Operations Manager in 1979. Tony has been involved with Caravan for many years including holding the posts of both Secretary and Chairman of the South Coast Branch and Chairman of Welfare for two terms of office. He is also Caravan’s Honorary Treasurer.

DAVID HUDSON

David spent 35 years in the food and drink industry most of which was with Nestlé, including four years in Japan.  After a number of marketing roles in petfoods, healthcare and coffees, David's last role before he retired was as Nestlé's director of communications and corporate affairs.  Over the years, he has been actively involved with the FDF, CBI, IGD & ISBA.

John Black

John has been involved in the grocery industry for over 40 years. His first 5 years was in retail before joining The Imperial Food Group where over the course of 14 years he held a number of senior Sales Roles. John joined the SHS Group in 1983 as Managing Director of SHS Sales & Marketing (GB) and in early 2007 he took on the new role of Non Executive Chairman.  John has been involved with Caravan for over 10 years as an active member of the PFRC

Ian Radcliffe

Ian is Customer Business Development Director of Procter & Gamble UK