Hannah Ainley and Dave Wynne.
Mr Wynne was with Williams for fourteen years, before which he had spent three years with Williams’ sister company Falcon Foodservice Equipment. Ms Ainley has great knowledge of the industry, having worked in it for the past thirty years, initially with distributors including Lockhart and latterly with Rational and, most recently, Lincat.
“We’re sorry to see Dave go, and his are big shoes to fill, as anyone who has met him can testify!” says Malcolm Harling, sales and marketing director at Williams. “However, Hannah is the ideal replacement, bringing a massive amount of experience and expertise to the role, as well as a great can-do attitude.”
Ms Ainley will be working with distributors in the North West, maintaining existing relationships and building new ones. She said. “I wanted a company where I could lay roots and also see my career progress – people who come to Williams tend to stay.”
Mr Wynne agrees: “Williams has a very friendly, supportive family ethos,” he said. “Staff are treated as professionals and the structure, management and leadership are first class – as are the products. That’s why I stayed 14 years! Hannah will do a great job. She’s professional, experienced and works well in a team, and the dealers really like her. I wish her the very best for the future.”
Commenting on the industry Mr Wynne said: “It’s changing for the better. For example, the way manufacturers are working together these days is very positive, as is the way they have embraced new technology to help foodservice operators meet the challenges they face. Overall the attitudes and procedures are a lot more professional now than when I first joined the catering equipment industry, back in 1998.”
Whilst Ms Ainley's work has already begun, Mr Wynne will be kept busy during his retirement in Anglesey - from looking after his young family to tending their expanding flock of chickens. “Dave is very much loved by his customers, especially by the football supporters,” said Ms Ainley. “He will definitely be missed – he’s a tough act to follow!”