NABMA appoints new Chief Executive

Hilary Paxman has been appointed to succeed Graham Wilson as NABMA’s Chief Executive

Hilary has a long career in the Civil Service, working first at the heart of Government in the Cabinet Office where she worked closely with Ministers on key policy challenges of the day, including social exclusion, better regulation and the legislative programme.

She joined the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2001, and since 2008 has been working on local economic growth issues, including leading on the Government’s response to the Select Committee report on markets in 2009, including the formation of the Retail Markets Forum, which Hilary led and which has continued to meet regularly since then.

Hilary also helped deliver the Government response to the Portas Review into the Future of the High Street, working closely with NABMA on the development and delivery of the Love Your Local Market campaign since 2012, most recently leading the team which delivered the Great British High Street competitions, one of the Government’s current most successful low- cost schemes to promote best practice in town centre regeneration.

She was honoured with NABMA’s Krys Zasada Award, in ‘recognition of outstanding services to markets’ in 2014.

Following her appointment which commences on 1 June, Hilary will be conducting a strategic review of NABMA and would welcome any comments or suggestions from members. Hilary will take over as Chief Executive from Graham at the September Conference in Stratford Upon Avon.

Graham will continue as Legal and Policy Advisor at the organisation from September and support Hilary in her role.

NABMA President, Cllr Chris Rosling-Josephs welcomed the appointment saying, ‘I am delighted with Hilary’s appointment and look forward to working with her in the coming months. I am sure she will bring a new dimension to the role and help us to continue the excellent support we provide to our members.’