Scottish Bakers, the membership organisation which supports the bakery trade throughout Scotland, has announced the appointment of a new chief executive.

Lesley Cameron will join the organisation on the 4th of September 2023 fresh from her role as director of Marketing and Communications at Quality Meat Scotland, a position she has held since September 2019.

Lesley has over 20 years’ experience working within the food and drinks industry, with business including Kettle Produce, Macsween of Edinburgh and more recently with Baxters Food Group.

Scottish Bakers president and director of McGhee’s Bakery, Ian McGhee, said: “We are delighted to have secured Lesley to take on the role of chief executive at this crucial time of legislative change and ongoing cost challenges facing us both as businesses and consumers. Her blend of strategic engagement, commercial acumen and marketing savvy is exactly the skill set we need to further our agenda and support our sector as it continues to thrive.”

An ever-changing landscape

Lesley Cameron commented: “The bakery sector in Scotland delivers more than £1 billion to the Scottish economy and employs around 12,000 people. It is my role to ensure our members are strategically represented with policy makers, industry partners including Scotland Food and Drink, Skills Development Scotland plus other key opinion formers and decision makers.

“We continue to work in an ever-changing landscape with health and sustainability at the heart of consumers purchasing behaviour. In addition, the global climate emergency is challenging the way the world lives and works, cost of production, food labelling and product reformulation is also driving complexity within the retail environment. 

“On a personal level, I am excited to be joining such a well-respected trade association which represents some dynamic businesses and to be at the heart of the next phase of the Association’s development will be an honour. I look forward to being part of the Scottish Bakers family.”