Scottish Spar retailer and distributor CJ Lang has appointed Colin McLean as chief executive officer.

McLean has spent the previous 13 years as chief operating officer at Scotmid Co-operative, and before that had extensive retail experience at Boots, Littlewoods, Argos, Dixons and Marks and Spencer.

He will provide strategic and operational leadership with the aim of steering the company to continuing success in its business streams and exploring new avenues of business development. Whilst serving as a member of the main board, McLean will also actively direct the executive board in its activities.

He will be further supported by the new appointments of Craig Tedford (Ex-Heineken finance director) to financial director; Mike Leonard (formerly United Wholesale’s head of retail) to sales director; and John Connolly to company secretary (13 years as a controller with C J Lang).

They will join existing executive board members David Lamb (interim managing director/trading director); Jamie Buchanan (own stores director); Colin Chapman (distribution director) and Graham Murdoch (IT director).

Former sales director Bill Mair and distribution director John Leitch are leaving the company after many years of service.