The UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO) has appointed Russell Davies as its chief executive officer.
The DMO is organisation responsible for designing, delivering and operating the new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, set to be implemented in October 2027.
As CEO, Davies is expected to lead the DMO in driving operational delivery, accelerating readiness, and ensuring all parts of the Deposit Return Scheme are prepared for launch in October 2027. In the coming months this will see the organisation finalising its operational blueprint, consulting on the design of the Retail Handling Fee and Producer Fee structures and identifying the logistics, collection and recycling partners for the scheme.
Davies has more than 25 years of leadership experience across global logistics, supply chain management and commercial strategy. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer for North Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Hillebrand Gori, a DHL company specialising in beverage logistics, where he led teams across multiple international markets.
Commenting on his appointment, chief executive officer of UK DMO Russell Davies, said: “It’s an honour to join UK DMO at such a pivotal moment. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver a scheme that works for business, for consumers and for the environment – a system that changes how the UK manages packaging and recycling.
“I’ve spent my career building and leading commercial operations at scale, and I know success depends on clarity, collaboration and execution. My focus now is on delivery – making sure the DMO has the capability, partnerships and momentum to make this scheme a success.
“That work is already underway. We’ve published our Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) specification, established our headquarters in Milton Keynes, and are expanding our leadership team across key functions. At the same time, we’re working hand-in-hand with industry, government and supply chain partners to ensure the scheme is designed with their needs in mind and can be delivered in a way that works for everyone.”
Chair of the UK DMO Board, John Bason, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Russell to the DMO. His appointment marks another important step forward as we strengthen our leadership team and accelerate preparations for delivery. Russell brings extensive experience in managing complex operational networks and working across business and government to achieve large-scale change. His leadership will be instrumental in ensuring the DMO is ready to deliver a scheme that is practical, efficient and trusted by the public.”
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