The UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO), which is tasked with rolling out the deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use plastic and metal drinks containers across England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, has poached Niamh Lawlor to become its inaugural chief financial officer (CFO).
Lawlor joins from Poundstretcher, where she was CFO for the past year. Prior to that she spent 25 years at the UK’s largest retailer, Tesco, where she spent the final three years of that tenure as CFO for Tesco Ireland.
At Tesco, Lawlor held a range of senior finance positions spanning retail operations, logistics, infrastructure and online delivery, and spent the latter part of her time there as part of the executive board at the retailer’s Irish arm.
She also brings lived experience of deploying DRS, having been part of the senior team at Tesco when Ireland’s scheme was introduced in February 2024.
Her new responsibilities include leading the UK DMO’s financial strategy, governance and performance as it continues to build towards full operational delivery of the DRS, mooted for an October 2027 launch.
Read more about the UK DRS plans, which doesn’t currently involve Wales, on Green Retail World.
“The DMO has made strong progress in a short space of time, and I’m pleased to be joining at this important next phase,” said Lawlor.
“I’m looking forward to working with colleagues to help build the financial foundations needed to support the successful delivery of the scheme.”
Bason added: “Niamh’s appointment is an important step for the organisation.
“With board positions now filled and organisational structures in place, we are moving into the next phase of work – finalising scheme design and supporting industry readiness across the UK, to ensure the scheme is practical, fair and works for everyone involved.”
[main image credit: Green Retail World]
