Bargain Booze owner Conviviality has appointed former Booker executive Mark Aylwin as managing director of its on-trade wholesaler Matthew Clark.

Aylwin was most recently responsible for Budgens and Londis in his role as managing director of Booker Retail Partners. He will replace Steve Thomson, who is stepping down after 10 years as Matthew Clark CEO, in January 2016.

Diana Hunter, chief executive officer of Conviviality Plc, said: “I am delighted to appoint Mark as managing director of our Matthew Clark business. He has a wealth of experience in food and drink wholesale and is ideally placed to develop the Matthew Clark business with our customers and suppliers.

“I am pleased with the progress we have made since the acquisition and the integration is ahead of plan. The key hires required to deliver our synergies are in place ahead of plan and all the teams in both businesses are working well together.”

Mark Aylwin said: “I am delighted to be joining Conviviality Plc at this exciting time in the Company’s development. Matthew Clark is a great business and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to drive growth, whilst delivering outstanding customer service to the on-trade.”

Aylwin spent eight years at Booker, where has was also managing director of Booker Direct. He also worked for 20 years at Safeway.