CGMA names Wanda Goldwag as new chair

Wanda Goldwag has been appointed the new chair of Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), succeeding interim chair John Lelliott.

Goldwag - who has been appointed by Defra ministers - is currently chair of Nuclear Transport Solutions and of the Uniform Network Code Modification Panel, a technical body in the gas industry.

She previously had a 25-year marketing career culminatng in being managing director of Air Miles, the British Airways-owned loyalty scheme. Since then, she has specialised in creating a portfolio of non-executive private and public-sector roles.

Her expertise is described as being in providing strategic direction, risk management and creating successful management teams. She has chaired a wide variety of boards and has been a regulator, and will take up the role at CGMA on 2 April for a four-year term.

Lelliott steps down as interim chair after 15 months in the role, but will remain on the CGMA board as a non-executive director until his final term ends in September this year.

Goldwag said: “I am delighted to be asked to lead what is the largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK at such a crucial time in its development. As a vegetarian, I especially recognise the importance of the supply of high-quality fresh produce. I am committed to ensuring the market’s ageing facilities are effectively replaced to ensure the market traders and their customers benefit from facilities that support their businesses to grow and flourish.”

Jo Breare, general manager at CGMA, added: “I would like to welcome Wanda to CGMA and look forward to working with her as we move into the next phase of the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market and further towards the successful completion of the redevelopment programme, which will create a modern and vibrant horticultural market for our tenants at Nine Elms. I’d also like to thank John Lelliott for his invaluable input during his time as interim chairman.”

Lelliott said: “It has been a privilege to be interim chairman of CGMA and I am delighted to welcome Wanda into the role. I look forward to working alongside her on the board and to continuing to take New Covent Garden Market forward.”

Gary Marshall, chairman of Covent Garden Tenants Association, said: “On behalf of the tenants, I welcome Wanda Goldwag to the role of chair of CGMA. My executive team at CGTA and I look forward to working with Wanda and her team to ensure that this great wholesale market continues to lead its field well into the future.”