Personnel

Ken Parsons (Chief Executive)

For most of his working life Ken has worked in the retail industry in a variety of roles for some major retail organisations, such as Boots the Chemists, Gateway Supermarkets and Somerfield. For the last few years he has specialised in addressing the issues facing rural retailers, operating as a Retail Consultant for such organisations as the Countryside Agency and more recently, the Rural Shops Alliance. As a result of this work, he is well-known to many shopkeepers in the West Midlands and South West regions. In November 2007 he was appointed Chief Executive of the RSA.

Anne Unwin (Office Administrator)

Anne joined the RSA in 2005 having previously worked in education and hospital administration.
Anne is based at the RSA’s headquarters in Dorset where she runs the office and is generally the first point of contact.

Gary Hepburn (External Relations Manager)

Gary has held directorships and senior management positions in public bodies, private companies, pension funds and the government sector dating back to 1990, he is currently a director of 4 SMEs offering a diverse range of products and services and holds public appointments in the policing and health services. Gary headed up the regional activities of the postal watchdog Postwatch in the South & West from 2001 until 2008 giving him a good understanding of the importance of Post Office’s and Rural Shops to the communities they serve and the many difficulties these communities and businesses face.
Gary specialises in marketing, external relations, consumer affairs, health & safety, media and public relations. He is an active member and trustee of many charities/organisations (predominantly youth and elderly) and also gives time to South West Ambulance NHS Trust as a volunteer Ambulance First Responder. Gary has lived in Weymouth, Dorset since he was born in 1964.

Trevor West( Chairman)
Trevor became a director of the RSA in September 2008. Prior to this he spent 31 years with Mars UK, where he was Trading Director for the Convenience Sector. Trevor's experience covers Sales Training, Trade Marketing and National Accounts Sales, having handled Mars Petcare, Food and Confectionery business in Multiple and Convenience accounts. He has always been a great supporter of Independent Retailers and he is a well-known figure in the Sector. He became RSA Chairman in October 2009.

Phil Smith (Operations Manager)
Phil enjoyed a long career with Royal Mail/Post Office Ltd in its various incarnations, including appointments as Regional General Manager and Head of Rural Policy. Phil’s responsibilities within the RSA include working with some of our Partners and our Associate Members in the East of England, managing projects and lobbying Government on crime issues

Alan Foley-Greaves (Regional Cooordinator)

Alan joined us in June after 30 years with Mars Petcare working in the Convenience Sector as National Accounts Manager for the Musgrave Group which included Budgens,Londis and Musgrave  Northern Ireland. Working in the Convenience Sector has given Alan a wealth of experience in Product Ranging and Category Management. Alan also was part of a team that gave coaching and support to new starters joining Mars.

Alan Chevis (Director)

Andrew’s worked with retail groups for two decades, at alcohol lobby The Portman Group where he ran sensible drinking campaigns, and since 1999 at CitizenCard, the UK’s leading proof of age/ID scheme.  Andrew lives in London with wife Lena and four children between the ages of 3 and 15. He grew up on the Hampshire/Surrey border but can now often be found in the Suffolk village of Glemsford refurbishing his grandparents’ cottage and helping his two village shops fight off a threat from Tesco.