Tributes have been paid to former Scottish Grocers’ Federation Chief Executive John Drummond, who has passed away suddenly at his home in Dundee aged 72.
The highly-respected Drummond served as Chief Executive between 2005 and 2015 and established SGF as an influential and very well-regarded lobbying organisation. He also oversaw the development of the SGF-Scottish Government Healthy Living Programme.
Upon retiring from the role in 2015, Drummond continued to have strong links with the industry in his role as National Account Manager with the Healthy Living Programme.
Kathryn Neil, Programme Director of SGF Healthy Living, said: “Myself and the SGF Healthy Living team were deeply saddened with the news of John Drummond’s passing. John worked with the programme for the past four years and was an inspirational driver of the Healthcare Retail Standards work carried out in all NHS hospitals in Scotland.
“John was a true gentleman and was highly thought of by everyone who met and worked with him, it was an honour to have worked so closely with him over the last few years. John will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts go out to his daughter and the rest of his family at such a sad time.”
SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema said: “I am shocked and stunned by this tragic event. Everyone at the Federation deeply sympathises with the family and friends of John and hope that they will get the privacy and peace they most likely need in their situation. For many of us, too, he was a friend whose loss we do not really understand. John was the Chief Executive when I was President of SGF between 2006 and 2008. He will be truly missed.”
John is survived by his daughter Katherine. His wife Kay predeceased him in 2016.
