Smarter Capital is delighted to announce the appointment of Neil Turton as Head of its Health & Wellbeing vertical, a move that signals the firm's bold intent to accelerate growth and leadership in one of the fastest-growing consumer sectors.
A retail and wholesale veteran with over 40 years of experience, Neil will guide and mentor the Managing Directors within the vertical and support the Smarter Capital Executive Team in driving significant acquisitive and organic growth.
An Unmatched Track Record
Neil began his career at M&S as a management trainee before joining Nisa in 1991. Over two decades he rose to COO and then CEO, leading the business through an extraordinary growth phase, with sales climbing from £900m to £1.6bn in just seven years of his leadership, a 7.2% compound annual growth rate.
Since then, Neil has held senior leadership roles including COO at Co-ops UK, MD of Sugro, and multiple non-executive directorships. He has chaired the Association of Convenience Stores and served on the board of the wholesale industry body FWD. Beyond business, he has been a driving force for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), helping to raise £1.7m to clear the explosive legacy of conflict worldwide.
The Mission Ahead
In his new role, Neil will:
- Mentor and support Managing Directors across the Health & Wellbeing vertical.
- Strengthen the vertical's industry positioning and network.
- Drive strategic initiatives to accelerate growth, and create even greater value for our customers, colleagues, and shareholders.
'Smarter Capital's ambition in this sector is very clear,' said Neil. 'My goal is to help create high-growth, dynamic businesses in this vertical, built with integrity, and to have fun while doing it. The opportunity to combine my network, experience, and appetite for growth with Smarter Capital's bold strategy is incredibly exciting.'
Mark Callaghan, CEO of Smarter Capital, commented:
'Neil is an industry leader with decades of experience, a proven track record of scaling businesses, and a network that is second to none.'
'His leadership, combined with the entrepreneurial energy in our Health & Wellbeing vertical, creates a very powerful formula for growth.'
'This appointment marks a step change in our ambitions.'
A Leader with Depth Beyond Business
A proud Yorkshireman, Neil is guided by the motto of his hometown Barnsley, Spectemur Agendo ('Judge us by our deeds').
Outside of work, he is an avid traveller, having visited 74 countries, including the notoriously hard-to-access North Korea, with an ambition to visit all 193.
His commitment to MAG, where he served six years as a Trustee, reflects his values of service, impact, and global awareness.
About Smarter Capital
Smarter Capital acquires and scales high-potential UK SMEs, building connected groups of complementary businesses. With a hands-on, founder-friendly approach, Smarter Capital works to unlock growth, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation.
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