The finishing line is in sight for Martin Race, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, who has decided to retire from the role and will leave the business on November 30, 2018 to spend more time at home with his family.
He will be replaced by Dawood Pervez, who will work alongside Race in the interim before taking up the reins on December 1.
Race has spent his entire working life in Wholesale, 30 years of which with Bestway and Batleys. 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, Race became Operations Director in 2000. He 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 Race took over as Trading Director, before being promoted to Managing Director in July 2016. In this role he has successfully overseen Bestway’s transformation to a modern wholesaler, driving consistent and strong profitable growth, as well as expansion.
Martin Race commented: “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. 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 Bestway as a qualified solicitor in 2002. 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 and also established the group’s digital presence and export business. Most recently he has led the Trading department.
Dawood 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 is now in a unique position to benefit from the turbulent market conditions and it is my full intention for it to do so.”
