Mark White has been appointed as the new Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) in the UK. He will replace the current adjudicator, Christine Tacon, who will step down from the role later in the year.
The department for business, energy and industrial strategy has reappointed Tacon for a term of up to six months to provide continuity in the grocery sector through the coronavirus pandemic.
White will serve as the deputy GCA during the interim period and work alongside Tacon to ensure a smooth transition.
'Valuable Insight'
Commenting on the appointment, small business minister Paul Scully said, "Mark White’s extensive experience will bring valuable insight into this important role, providing support to the grocery sector through these difficult times.
"I look forward to working with him to ensure a level playing field between grocers and suppliers."
The GCA is responsible for implementing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, which aims to ensure lawful and fair treatment of direct suppliers by large grocery retailers.
The GCA arbitrates disputes between retailers and suppliers and also has the power to launch investigations where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the Code has been breached.
An Experienced Professional
White is an experienced professional who currently serves as a non-executive chairman of the cyber protocol employee reference checking company, Digital Reconnaissance Limited.
He is also a member of the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) and the Lower Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) at HM Courts and Tribunal Service.
He is responsible for hearing appeals against decisions from the financial conduct authority and the ministry of justice in a range of financial services and claims management cases.
Before this, he held the position of group general counsel, company secretary and executive board member at Compass Group PLC, an FTSE 30 food and support services company operating in 45 more than countries.
He was responsible for legal, governance, the annual report, compliance and insurance as well as the professional development of approximately 140 lawyers.
He was also a pension scheme trustee, a member of the executive board, disclosure and corporate responsibility committees and a director of multiple group companies and joint venture companies in the UK, France, the UAE, South Africa and India.
He also served as group general counsel, company secretary and executive board member at Ferguson PLC (formerly Wolseley PLC), Enterprise Oil PLC (now part of Royal Dutch Shell) and Rotork p.l.c.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
