LICENSED trade charity The Ben has elected Andrew Lawrence as its new president.
Succeeding Sue Buchanan, Lawrence, a national account controller with Diageo, takes on the role after a year as The Ben’s vice-president; during that time, he is said to have supported Buchanan in her initiatives to both modernise the charity and increase its reach.
In his new role, Lawrence will head up the charity’s board and drive operational strategy, working closely with chief executive Chris Gardner to optimise fundraising and the delivery of services for beneficiaries.
Commenting on his appointment, Lawrence said it is “a real honour” to be elected as president.
“I’ve been involved in The Ben for three years now and it is incredibly rewarding working alongside others in the industry to support Scotland’s licensed trade across a variety of areas; whether that’s helping out at a fundraising event or supporting a dinner,” he said.
Other appointments include Stephen McGowan of TLT Solicitors, who has been elected as vice-president, and Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, who has been appointed as patron.
Gardner said: “It’s been another busy year for The Ben and we are looking forward to further driving this awareness with Andrew and the rest of the team.
“With Andrew’s enthusiasm and commitment to the industry, we’re sure it’s going to be a strong start for everyone involved.
“Sue has done a fabulous job during her time as president and I’d like to thank her for her tremendous efforts and dedication over the past year. I know she’ll remain involved through her role as immediate past president and her contributions will continue to be extremely beneficial moving forward.”
