Southern Co-operative elects chair and vice-chairs

Michael Hastilow has been elected as the chair of Southern Co-operative.

Mr Hastilow, who previously served as vice-chair, was elected to the board in April 2005 and sits on the remuneration and appointments committee, chair’s committee and is a trustee of the society’s pension scheme.

He replaces David Blowe who completed his term as a director at the annual meeting in June, after 23 years on the board and eight years in the chair. He will be joined by two newly elected vice-chairs, Tom Blair and Neil Blanchard.

Mr Hastilow is a fellow of the Institute of Management and member of the Institute of Directors. In 2011 he was awarded the Advanced Diploma in Co-operative and Mutual Directorship from the Co-operative College, and has gained significant management and board experience during a career that has spanned the Royal Navy, catering and retail.

“I am honoured to have been elected to this position,” he said, “and will endeavour, along with my fellow directors, to ensure that TSC continues  to develop not only as one of the premier independent societies, but as a society based firmly and fairly on colleague and member-engagement.”

Mr Blanchard was elected to the board in May 2009 and is chair of the audit committee. He has 20 years’ experience in senior financial roles including internal audit and management accounts and is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. In 2012 he was awarded the Advanced Diploma in Co-operation and Mutual Directorship from the Co-operative College.

Mr Blair was elected to the board in April 1997 and is chair of the remuneration and appointments committee. He also sits on the audit committee and chair’s committee. Now retired, Mr Blair was formerly a health and safety consultant and also held the role of Lord Mayor of Portsmouth. He currently also serves as a governor of a local secondary school and as a non-executive director of a charity offering advice on setting up business as a co-operative or mutual enterprise for the benefit of the community.