Industry News

Effective from 31^st March 2025, following an extensive career in distributive businesses, Ian Doherty, chief executive of Owlett-Jaton, has retired.

Ian joined Owlett-Jaton in 2016. He brought a passion for customer service along with extensive hands-on experience in sales, marketing and supply chain operations. Ian has guided the leading wholesale supplier through many strategic challenges during his leadership, including, BREXIT, Covid-19, shipping disruptions, UKCA and CBAM. Notably, in 2020, Ian consolidated multiple trading divisions into one – a move that has helped lead Owlett-Jaton into its next phase of growth.

In addition to his role at Owlett-Jaton, for the last five years, Ian has also held the position of Chairman of the British and Irish Association of Fastener Distributors (BIAFD) and their representative to the European Federation of Distributor Associations (EFDA).

After university, Ian served in the British Army and then joined Unilever, pursuing a successful career with the consumer goods giant for nearly twenty years. During that time, he qualified as an accountant and held a number of roles in finance, sales and marketing and supply chain. Latterly, he was Managing Director of a Unilever’s ice cream business in Australia.

Back in the UK, a series of senior positions reinforced his supply chain expertise, including running a big stationery wholesaler. Tony Williams, sales director, said: “We appreciate Ian’s contribution to Owlett-Jaton over the last eight and a half years and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Andrew Ballantine, COO of Newbury Investments, will act as interim Managing Director until Ian’s successor is in place. Ian will continue to support the business in a non-executive role.