Scott Waddington

Scott Waddington has been shortlisted for his success as Chief Executive of renowned Welsh brewer SA Brains.

From Swansea, he was educated at Gowerton Comprehensive School before studying an Economics and Accounting degree at Reading University. He has spent most of his career in the hospitality sector, specifically in drinks marketing and pub retailing working with businesses including Bass, Carlsberg and Century Inns. In 2001, Scott joined SA Brain as Chief Executive. Under his leadership, Brains now have a total of 260 pubs as well as a growing brands and brewing business. In 2011, Brains acquired the Coffee#1 chain of high street coffee shops. Latest figures show that sales at this chain grew 55% and that the chain is on target to open 50 outlets by 2015 and 50 more in the following 5 years. The developments within Brains have been recognised with a number of awards including the Western Mail ‘Welsh Company of the Year’, the Publican’s ‘Regional Brewer of the Year' and The Publican Pub Company of the Year. Scott was Chair of CBI for Wales during 2010-11. He is currently the chairman of the Wales Employment and Skills Board and was appointed Wales Commissioner to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) from 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2015 where he works with partners across the 4 nations to maximise skills to help drive enterprise, sustainable growth and job creation across Wales and the rest of the UK. Scott is currently the Chair of the Cardiff Business Club.