ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has confirmed the appointment of Patrick Sewell, managing director of the award-winning Sewell On the Go chain of fuel and convenience stores, as its new chair.

Patrick will take on the chairmanship of ACS from 1 November 2016 having been on the board since 2011, serving as deputy chair since 2014. He will replace as chair Palmer and Harvey group strategy and development director Paul Hagon, who remains on the ACS board. At the same time, Spar UK md Debbie Robinson will become deputy chair.

The Sewell group operates 12 stores in the Hull area, serving over four million customers per year. The group won Forecourt Trader of the Year – for the second time - this month for its South Cave site.

Patrick said: “Like many convenience store operators, I could not run my business without the representation, support, information and contacts I get from ACS. It’s a great honour for the board to ask me to chair ACS, and I am very much looking forward to working with them and the ACS executive team to ensure that we continue to grow as a powerful and effective lobby group for convenience store retailers.

“I would like to thank Paul Hagon for his commitment to ACS over the last two years in the position of chairman. Under his leadership, ACS has become even more relevant and respected in Government and has seen a continued growth in the number of stores we represent.”

On becoming ACS vice chair, Debbie Robinson said: “The role of ACS is crucial to the success of the independent retailer and I am delighted to be involved with an organisation that commits itself unwaveringly to supporting the convenience industry.”

Current ACS chair Paul Hagon said: “We are delighted that Patrick has taken the chairman’s role. He has already made a huge contribution as vice chair, and is admired and respected across the sector for the outstanding business he runs. We also welcome Debbie to the vice chair role, whose wealth of experience will be invaluable in driving ACS forward in the future.”

David Roberts, director of estates services at the Co-operative, remains deputy vice chairman.