The Irish boss steering Circle K through Brexit and a pandemic
www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org Gordon Lawlor is in charge of the country’s largest chain of fuel retailers at a particularly tricky time Gordon Lawlor, CEO of Circle K, says forecourts will drive retail footfall by installing services such as off-licences, parcel pick-ups and washing machines. ‘You will see forecourts continually expanding the range of stuff they sell.’ Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Arms folded on his chest, face beaming, Circle K managing director Gordon Lawlor strikes a pose for The Irish Times photographer outside the fuel group’s huge outlet in Dublin Port. The problem is that, unwittingly, he is standing in the path of cars trying to exit the forecourt. They start queuing up. Lawlor belatedly realises that he has an audience. He raises his hand in apology to the driver at the top of the line, and steps out of the way. The driver, beaming even more widely than Lawlor, seems only too delighted to have been held up for a photoshoot and rolls down his...