Tracy Southwell has been appointed as Hobart UK Equipment Division’s Managing Director with effect from January 1st, 2023.
Southwell, who joined the manufacturer in September 2021 as Sales and Marketing Director, will succeed the outgoing David Riley to become not only the first female MD of Hobart but one of the very few female business leaders in UK catering equipment manufacturing.
The highly experienced sales leader, who has 25 years of multi-channel experience in the food and beverage industry, has spent her formative time at the manufacturer listening and learning about what makes this nuanced market tick. Allied to this she has helped to sharpen the businesses’ strategic focus, while championing initiatives that build Hobart’s reputation for sustainable innovation and unrivalled training and support around its diverse product ranges.
Her remit as MD also centres on positioning Hobart as a change maker in the industry, both from a diversity and inclusion but also a talent development perspective.
On her appointment, and business ethos, Tracy commented: “I feel privileged to be appointed to lead the organisation. We now move forward with an even greater sense of purpose and a pledge to invest further to maintain our reputation for excellence and reliability, whilst further improving our talent management programme, focusing on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, and looking outside of the industry – where appropriate – to bring in external expertise. This is alongside an equally ambitious drive to reinforce key pillars of our business – sustainable innovation, a focus on value and total cost of ownership, and building customers for life. I’m incredibly proud to be leading Hobart as we stand at the start of a new chapter in Hobart’s history.”