CJ Lang & Son has announced that Claire Smith will become its sales director from January. She takes over the role handled by MD Ed Ferguson, who is leaving for family reasons (The Grocer, November 20, p18).
Smith joined CJ Lang, the regional distribution company for Spar Scotland, five years ago as a field sales controller for Spar Scotland before promotion to regional controller.
She is currently independent business controller for Spar Scotland, heading the 20-strong sales force looking after Spar independent retailers.
Smith’s career began in the fashion industry in 1985 as a trainee buyer for a family-owned department store in Glasgow, after which she moved to the British Shoe Corporation as a trainee manager.
In 1991, she joined Bradford Bakeries as an area manager and then held an HR role in production and an operations role with responsibility for production and shop staff.