Martin Race, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, has decided to retire from his role and will be leaving the business as of 30th November 2018.
Race (pictured) took on the unenviable burden of being away from his family to work out of Head Office in London. Having spent 5 years based away from home, he has decided it is time to retire – so that he is able to spend more time at home with his family.
Race has worked in Wholesale all his working life, and has served both Bestway and Batleys with commendable dedication for over 30 years. He started with the group as manager of Batleys Cleveland in 1988. After playing an instrumental role in the introduction of the Ab initio trading software into Batleys, Martin became Operations Director in 2000.
Race retained this position through the Bestway takeover in 2005, playing a significant role both during and after the takeover, helping to ensure as smooth a transition as possible without any major impact to the businesses.
In January 2014, he took over the role of Trading Director, before subsequently being promoted to Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale in July 2016. In this role during the last couple of years, Race has successfully overseen the business’ transformation to a modern wholesaler, driving consistent and strong profitable growth, as well as expansion.
Race is a very familiar and friendly face, both across the business and across the industry, and his straight talking style will be greatly missed.
Race said “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last two years as MD and take great heart from the improving performance of the business. I would like to thank the Exec, the larger leadership team and all colleagues for their support and hard work, but I feel that it is now time for a younger man to take the company forward and for me to spend more time with my family.'
Dawood Pervez will take the role of Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale from 1st December 2018. Dawood will work alongside Martin in the interim period before assuming his new role.
Race added, 'I have worked closely with Dawood for 13 years and am fully confident that he is the right man to lead the business forward and I wish him the best of luck in the future.”
Pervez joined the business as a qualified solicitor in 2002. During his time at Bestway he has headed up various functions across the business including Legal, HR, L&D, Property, HSE and Marketing. He has played a key role in acquisitions since joining and also established our digital presence as well as our Export business. Most recently he has led Trading department, which has flourished under his guidance.
Pervez said, “I am delighted to be succeeding Martin as the Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, and I would like to thank him personally for all of his support over the years. The business (originally built by Sir Anwar Pervez, Younus Sheikh and Zameer Choudrey) is now in a unique position to benefit from the turbulent market conditions and it is my full intention for it to do so.”
The board of Bestway Wholesale Limited said “We thank Martin for all he has done for the business and congratulate Dawood for his new appointment. We wish him every success as he leads our business into the future – Forward as one”.