Cooke has accepted the newly established role of Chief Operating Officer, while John Kinney, the Managing Director of Unitas Wholesale, has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer.
In his position as Chief Operating Officer, Cooke will take on executive oversight of the trading, commercial, marketing, and retail teams. His leadership is expected to drive initiatives that significantly enhance value for both members and supplier partners.
Cooke is set to join the company in September, just before the group’s annual conference, scheduled to occur in Marbella from September 26 to 30, 2025.
This announcement follows Unitas Wholesale’s recent appointment of Gurms Athwal as the new Trading Director. Athwal will report directly to Cooke and has been appointed to the firm’s board immediately.
“David has excellent experience and a track record of delivering growth through collaborative supplier and member relationships, which makes him the ideal leader to accelerate our ‘Fitter, Fairer, Faster’ strategy,” Kinney stated.
“Together with Gurms and the wider leadership team, David will help us deliver incremental benefits for members year on year and provide a strong return on investment for our supplier partners.”
Cooke expressed his enthusiasm about joining Unitas Wholesale at such a pivotal moment.
“The group’s commitment to being fitter, fairer, and faster perfectly aligns with my own passion for building sustainable growth in partnership with suppliers and members,” he added.
“I look forward to collaborating with John and the entire Unitas team to unlock new opportunities, enhance our retail proposition, and deliver tangible benefits for all stakeholders.”
Finally, Unitas Wholesale Chair, Dr. Jason Wouhra, shared insights regarding the reshuffling of the senior team.
“David’s appointment strengthens the Unitas executive team and underscores our commitment to continuous improvement and future-proofing the business,” Dr. Wouhra remarked.
“Aligning trading, marketing, commercial, and retail under a COO positions the group to respond swiftly to market opportunities and support members with best-in-class propositions.”