Aquascot are immensely grateful to Charlie for his many years of service, and we look forward to working with him further in his role as Managing Director of Bay Food Group – the ready-meal company comprising of brands Highland Bay Seafoods, The Scottish Food Company and Highland Cookhouse – operating under the umbrella of Aquascot Trust.

Simon Fowler has worked in the John Lewis Partnership for 34 years in numerous senior roles, including as Managing Director of both London flagship department stores John Lewis Oxford Street and Peter Jones, where he perfected his skills in strategic planning, customer focus, commercial awareness, employee engagement, governance, risk and crisis management.

Most recently, as Group Director of Communications, Simon was leading a team with responsibility for Government and media relations, internal communications, the business Archives and the Partnership’s weekly magazine, The Gazette, which, at over 100 years old, is the World’s longest running in-house publication.

A former chair of the Employee Ownership Association (2011-2020), Simon brings a wealth of experience in the running of employee-owned businesses. He is also a Member and Director of The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and an Executive Coach with the Government inspired organisation, Be the Business.

Simon was born in Thailand and spent his early years in Central Africa before moving to the Cotswolds. He read Biology at Portsmouth University and has lived in Liverpool with his family since 2009. In his spare time, he is a keen gardener and beekeeper.

Dennis Overton, Chair of Aquascot Trust: “I am delighted Simon has been appointed to the role following a detailed process involving a number of partners from around the Aquascot business.”

Simon Fowler, Chair of Aquascot Board: “It is a great honour to be asked to succeed Charlie as the Chairman of the Aquascot Board. I am a passionate believer in employee ownership: Partners working together for each other’s wellbeing with the confidence to invest for the long-term and a focus on delivering innovation and continuous improvement in a rapidly changing world. I am therefore delighted to be joining Aquascot as one of the largest employee-owned businesses in Scotland and working with partners to ensure it remains a model of a better way to do business, delivering high quality and responsibly sourced products.”

Everyone at Aquascot extends a very warm welcome to Simon and we look forward to working closely together for years to come.

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