Industry leader appointed to guide the vertical

Smarter Capital is delighted to announce the appointment of Neil Turton as Head of its Health & Wellbeing vertical.

The appointment signals the firm's intent to accelerate growth and strengthen its leadership position across health, wellbeing, nutrition and related consumer markets.

With more than 40 years of retail and wholesale experience, Neil will guide and mentor the Managing Directors within the vertical and support the Smarter Capital Executive Team in delivering significant acquisitive and organic growth.

An unmatched track record

Neil began his career at Marks & Spencer as a management trainee before joining Nisa in 1991.

Over the following two decades, he progressed to Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Executive Officer, leading the business through a period of exceptional growth.

During seven years under his leadership, sales increased from approximately £900 million to £1.6 billion, representing compound annual growth of around 7.2%.

Senior leadership across retail and wholesale

Since leaving Nisa, Neil has held a series of senior industry positions, including Chief Operating Officer at Co-ops UK and Managing Director of Sugro.

He has also served in multiple non-executive roles, chaired the Association of Convenience Stores and sat on the board of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors.

This combination of operational leadership, commercial expertise and an extensive industry network will help Smarter Capital identify opportunities and support the management teams within its portfolio.

The mission ahead

In his new role, Neil will work closely with Smarter Capital and the management teams across the Health & Wellbeing vertical.

His priorities will include

• Mentoring and supporting Managing Directors across the vertical.
• Strengthening the group's industry positioning and professional network.
• Supporting strategic acquisition and integration initiatives.
• Accelerating organic growth across portfolio businesses.
• Creating greater value for customers, colleagues and shareholders.

Combining experience, relationships and ambition

Neil said Smarter Capital's ambition in the sector is clear and that he is excited by the opportunity to combine his experience, professional network and appetite for growth with the group's strategy.

His appointment strengthens the support available to management teams and provides an experienced sector leader who can help businesses navigate growth, acquisitions and operational development.

A step change in Smarter Capital's ambitions

Mark Callaghan said Neil's leadership, combined with the entrepreneurial energy within the Health & Wellbeing vertical, creates a powerful formula for growth.

He described the appointment as a step change in the group's ambitions and a significant addition to the expertise available across Smarter Capital.

A leader with depth beyond business

A proud Yorkshireman, Neil is guided by the Barnsley motto Spectemur Agendo, meaning “Judge us by our deeds”.

Outside work, he is an avid traveller who has visited 74 countries and aims eventually to visit all 193.

Neil also spent six years as a Trustee of the Mines Advisory Group, helping the organisation raise £1.7 million to clear the explosive legacy of conflict around the world.

His work with the charity reflects the values of service, impact and global awareness that he brings to his leadership roles.