GS1 UK CEO Gary Lynch is to retire, leaving his role and the organisation at the end of 2020.
GS1 UK is one of 114 neutral and independent GS1 organisations operating worldwide. From product barcodes to patient wristbands, GS1 standards have been transforming the way we work and live for more than 40 years. Whether online, in store or in a hospital, the common language of GS1 global standards is helping a community of more than 39,000 organisations across Britain to uniquely identify, describe and track anything, creating greater trust in data for everyone.
Having led the organisation for more than two decades, he has decided it is time to embark on a new challenge and to spend more time with his family.
Mr Lynch said, ‘Chris Tyas has now been in post as chair for a year; I have built a strong team around me and we have a strategy that is delivering solutions for our membership. I have decided the time is now right for me to embark on a new challenge.’
Since joining GS1 UK, he has been involved in trebling the membership base, which has helped the organisation to grow its service offering. One such service is productDNA, the industry-designed service to share trusted data between brands and retailers. This delivers cost savings to the retail industry but also trusted product data to the consumers. He also led the expansion of GS1 UK into the healthcare sector in 2002. Through the Department of Health and Social Care’s eProcurement strategy, GS1 standards have been mandated across every NHS acute trust and are responsible for saving millions of pounds and thousands of lives.
He is also recognised across the wider GS1 network as an individual that thinks beyond his office and contributes to driving the global agenda as a member of the GS1 global and European boards.
Mr Lynch continued, ‘I love this job and this organisation – the people, the things we do and the difference we make. It’s been a hard decision, to give this all up. I’ve decided to stick to my life plan and retire early at the end of 2020 to spend more time with my family and friends, and I plan to take up a non-exec directorship role or two.
‘Chris Tyas will be leading the search for a new CEO, and we will be taking our time to ensure we find a person who is culturally aligned and can continue to deliver the great vision we have for our members, our organisation in the UK and our role in GS1 globally.’
Mr Tyas said, ‘I want to thank Gary for his great leadership of GS1 UK, especially in the last decade with the development of GS1 standards in the healthcare arena as well as continuing to evolve the retail sector offering.
‘With my fellow directors, I am now looking for the right person to build on this success and take GS1 UK through the new decade. The transition is being methodically planned and will take place progressively across the next 12 months to minimise the impact on members and employees.’
