David Frankish has been appointed as the new chairman of Covent Garden Market Authority, taking over from Pam Alexander who steps down at the end of her second termon 1 February.
Frankish has a grocery logistics and food manufacturing background, and is currently vice chairman of logistics provider NFT Distribution and chair of the Employment & Skills Board at the CBI. His LinkedIn profile also states he is founder and chief executive of Clovis Enterprise, a management consultancy business that was incorporated in November 2017.
Frankish will earn £546 per day based on a one to two-day commitment to the role.
He joins CGMA at a sensitive time for the authority, which is midway through a £200 million redevelopment that has caused friction with wholesale market tenants.
“I’m delighted to have been appointed chair of CGMA,” he said. “While I’m sure the combination of a dynamic operational environment and an exciting redevelopment project carries with it the potential to be challenging, I feel I have the right experience and skillset to build on the robust progress made under the guidance of the outgoing chair Pam Alexander. I very much look forward to meeting my new colleagues and stakeholders, and working with them to help deliver on all our strategic commitments.”
CGMA appointments are made by Defra, and David Rutley, parliamentary under secretary of state for food and animal welfare, said Frankish has the skills to “help secure the future of the market, its traders and customers.”
Rutley also thanked Alexander for her work, with the outgoing chair credited with overseeing the opening of the new Flower Market, the Food Exchange, new football pitches for the local community over the market’s new Recycling Centre and the start of construction of the new Fruit & Veg Market.
Alexander said: “After six years at CGMA I am sad but excited to hand on the redevelopment of the iconic New Covent Garden Market to David Frankish. I feel sure that his unparalleled experience in food industry logistics, business development and customer service will contribute renewed vigour and confidence to the whole team. There is hard work ahead over the coming years and I look forward to the opening of a refreshed 21st century market and a new Food Quarter for London.”
