Roger started his career as a Trainee Manager within the food division for the Co-operative Retail Services (CRS) in 1972 for the Worcester Region. He moved to East Anglia, which he now calls home, with CRS in the early eighties. He later joined the then Ipswich Society as Operations Manager and following two mergers, retired in 2022 from the East of England Co-op from the position of Joint CEO. During his co-op journey, he has been involved in the eclectic mix of the family of businesses which make us a co-op, giving him a wide understanding and strong business skills. Roger’s long service has provided him with in depth knowledge of the co-operative movement both locally and nationally. This included being a director of the Federal Retail Trading Services board (FRTS) a nine billion buying group for all UK Retail Co-ops. Roger has had the privilege of being a founder of two local charities. The Raedwald Trust (Academy for children excluded from mainstream education) and Recovery Hub Ipswich (a residency with rehabilitation for those tackling addiction). Roger has led on a vast number of initiatives over the years. These included the pioneering and national award winning Sourced Locally, the first large retailer to stop providing one trip carrier bags and the sale of food beyond its best before date for 10p, reducing food waste and the amount of edible food going to landfill and helping to tackle food poverty. A co-op is more than a service provider it is a part of the community and is trusted. Roger is proud to be part of such an organisation.