SUE Buchanan has been elected the new president of Scottish licensed trade charity The Ben.
Buchanan, a regional sales manager with wholesaler Matthew Clark, has taken over from outgoing president David Morton and will head the board of the charity, which helps current and former workers in Scotland’s licensed trade who have fallen on hard times.
In the role, she will drive the organisation’s operational strategy and work with its chief executive, Chris Gardner, on fundraising and the delivery of services for beneficiaries.
Buchanan’s appointment was confirmed at The Ben’s AGM along with a number of changes to the board, including the election of Diageo’s Andrew Lawrence to the role of vice-president and the appointment of new directors David McGowan of Broughton Ales, Chris Cosh, John Hutchison of Heineken, Stephen Ramage of AG Barr, and Andrew Morrison of Maxxium.
Speaking after her appointment, Buchanan said: “It’s very humbling to be elected for such a prestigious position in our industry and I’m grateful to everyone who gave me their backing.
“When I first got involved with The Ben, I always believed in doing what was needed. Whether that’s helping out at fundraising events or taking a role on the board, there is always some way we can help and I feel it’s important for The Ben president to demonstrate that enthusiasm.
“I’m excited to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of fellow directors and we have a great opportunity to carry on the fantastic work carried out by David and our predecessors.
“The Ben already receives a tremendous amount of support from the industry, but we want to continue building its profile, particularly among younger audiences, and increasing the number of people we help.”
Chris Gardner, chief executive of The Ben, said: “It’s been another strong year for the charity, but we’re looking to push on in a number of areas and Sue is going to play a big role in our development over the next 12 months.
“She’ll bring a lot of energy to the presidency and no doubt have a very positive impact on both The Ben and the people we support.”
