Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) has announced the retirement of Jim Amabile, the long-serving Managing Director of PGMA, the Federation’s buying group. Amabile will officially retire on 31 August after 21 years with the trade body.
Amabile joined SGF in 2000 to become Commercial Manager of PGMA after a long career stretching back to 1968 when he started out in the industry as assistant buyer with Allied Suppliers Scotland, owners of then Templeton Massey & Lipton grocery stores. In 1975 he left to join the Nestlé sales force where he spent 24 years and progressed to a role as a National Account Manager.
Within a few years of joining SGF, he stepped up to become MD of PGMA, a role which encompassed responsibility for all parts of the company, including implementing many of the procedures and financial controls required to ensure the group’s sustainability.
PGMA has provided vital support to retailers in rural and island communities and Amabile is widely credited as playing the key role in ensuring that PGMA has remained a strong, viable and successful company.
SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “Jim has contributed over 21 years of valuable experience to PGMA and SGF. Jim not only has many years of outstanding service to SGF and PGMA, but has provided strategic guidance and support to me personally in my role of SGF CEO. He has been a source of invaluable counsel to me, PGMA, the SGF board and our staff. He will be sorely missed and very hard to replace.’’
SGF has put a robust recruitment process in place to ensure both an effective handover and a minimal impact on customer service.
