Borough Market has made dual changes to leadership roles in the past week that CEO Jane Swift calls “a fantastic partnership and a real force to be reckoned with.”
Shane Holland, executive chairman of the Slow Food movement in the UK, has become Chair for the Market; whilst Claire Pritchard, CEO of social enterprise the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, will be Vice Chair for the charitable trust.
For Holland, the promotion from Vice Chair, will help him further his quests to improve social justice and food access, and how the Market is viewed in the local community. His organisation helps fight for good food and farming, as well as ways to offset climate change.
“It’s my belief that everyone should have access to good food – the kind of food that makes us smile – and Borough Market is such a fantastic place to not only access great produce, but to connect with others and draw on the expertise of our wonderful traders,” said Holland, who takes over for the departing Adrian Bunnis, who spent four years in the role. “Borough Market plays such an important and valuable role in the local community and I’m proud to be stepping into this position.
“I’m looking forward to working with the trustees, traders and team at what we all see at the best market in the world, helping to guide its evolution as we continue to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.”
Pritchard, who has been a Trustee for eight years, brings the experience of working with businesses on a multitude of forward-thinking initiatives, including sustainability and waste reduction, urban growing, school food projects and community cookery clubs.
“I have always seen food as something that brings joy, and it brings me so much pleasure to be involved with this wonderful organisation that, from an age-old Market location in a corner of Southwark, delivers a really huge, positive impact. As Vice Chair at Borough Market I’ll be helping to increase that impact for the small businesses, staff, neighbours and stakeholders – including of course the millions of people who visit each year.”
Swift is grateful to not only have the two in those two roles but for the work done by Bunnis, who led a fully independent review of the Market’s governance that resulted in Borough Market’s Food Policy and future goals.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shane Holland and Claire Pritchard, as well as the valuable experience that they both individually bring,” she said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with them to shape the Market’s future. I’d also like to express my gratitude for the impact that Adrian Bunnis has had in his time as Chair. The Food Policy and 2030 strategy that he has helped develop, have left us with a clear roadmap for the future of the Market, with lots to be excited about.”
For more from Borough Market’s new Chair and Vice Chair, visit: https://boroughmarket.org.uk/market-blog/qa-shane-holland-claire-pritchard/
To hear Adrian’s final words as Chair of Trustees, visit: https://boroughmarket.org.uk/market-blog/a-view-from-the-chair/
