The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has announced that Karen Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Scotmid, has become the new SRC Chair. She took on the role from 1 August 2026.
The Scottish Retail Consortium is the lead trade association for retail industry, which is Scotland’s largest private sector employer with 228,000 colleagues.
Karen succeeds Debbie Harding who served as SRC Chair since 2024.
Karen Scott became Chief Executive Officer of Scotmid (Scottish Midland Co-operative Society) in 2024. Prior to this she was Chief Operating Officer and previously head of Semichem. Headquarted at Newbridge, near Edinburgh, Scotmid Co-operative operates around 250 retail outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, including Scotmid Food, Semichem, and Lakes & Dales Co-operative.
Karen is an existing member of the Scottish Retail Consortium’s Board. She will be the second female Chair of the Scottish Retail Consortium since it formed in 1999, following Debbie Harding, and will work with the 14-person Board and Director David Lonsdale to champion the retail industry and enhance its prospects for growth.
Karen Scott said:
Scotland’s retail industry makes an enormous economic and social contribution and its presence is felt in communities across the country.
Retail is an imaginative and resilient industry which is responding positively to evolving market conditions and customer demand. However, this remains a testing time for the industry. Global factors and ever-increasing demands from policy makers are impacting operating costs which has implications in terms of future employment, the vitality of our town and city centres, and the overall health of the sector.
With all that in mind I am looking forward to supporting and building on the excellent work that Debbie oversaw. The SRC is at the forefront of bringing retail’s story to policymakers, encouraging a more coherent approach to help the industry address its challenges. I look forward to helping ensure the sector continues to have a strong voice.
Scottish Retail Consortium’s Director David Lonsdale added:
I’m thrilled Karen has agreed to take on the role of SRC Chair. She is an outstanding industry leader and will bring those skills to support the work of the SRC in advocating on behalf of its members and the customers they serve.
I would like to pay huge thanks to Debbie Harding for the very significant contribution she has made to the Board over the past five years and latterly as Chair. She has been a brilliant servant of the industry through remarkably active times for the SRC, overseeing and guiding our efforts through the post-pandemic period, costs crunch, and political changes.
ENDS
Biography of Karen Scott, CEO Scotmid Cooperative: Karen Scott is the Chief Executive Officer of Scotmid Coop, with 38 years of experience in the retail industry. For the past 24 years, Karen has been a driving force in her leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer Retail, before being appointed CEO in August 2024. With a wealth of experience and commitment to the Society, her leadership reflects a deep commitment to collaboration, community, and sustainable growth, focused on creating meaningful partnerships and driving positive change at Scotmid.
