PEOPLE 10 MINUTES WITH:
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it? I am the sales director at Kilwaughter Minerals, which you’ll know for brands like K Rend, the UK’s leading through-colour silicone render manufacturer, external wall insulation specialists K Systems and Kilwaughter Lime.
What does your role entail? I work with our sales and technical teams across the UK and Ireland, in partnership with our customers which include many of the leading builders’ merchants, architects, contractors and applicators. Understanding their needs and responding to them is what ensures we continue to expand our reach and bring new products to market that meet the requirements of industry.
How did you get started in this industry? It was in part by accident, but I was also following in my dad’s footsteps as he’d been in sales all of his career. I started my career at SIG and found that I really thrived in the construction industry.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? My entire career has been in the construction industry, with several of those years operating at director level but working my way up from the trade counter. So, I have had a good grounding in this sector for my entire working life – I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What would you like to achieve in your role?
I think my role is all about people. For me it’s delivering a high performing, engaged, motivated and hardworking team that are proud to work for Kilwaughter. When people are motivated, success will follow.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Again, it’s people and a real highlight for me always is seeing my teams happy, which shows that we are doing well. What I want to do is to help those around me to continually develop and grow in their role, and thankfully that’s really part of the culture at Kilwaughter. When our people grow and develop so does our business, which helps our customers in turn.
What do you see as the main issues for builders’ merchants and for the construction industry at the moment?
I think for builders’ merchants, they’re facing many of the same challenges that other sectors are dealing with, such as improving the digital offering and a focusing on ESG, which is something that we at Kilwaughter have certainly been putting front and centre.
There’s also the ongoing skills shortage which of course we have directly addressed with the introduction of our new purpose built K Academy which is making great progress from its base in St Helens. So, we’re working with customers across the K Rend and K Systems brands, providing programmes that incorporate
DAVID GRACE Sales Director at Kilwaughter Minerals both practical and classroom-based learning.
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
It would be to not beat myself up and that’s the same advice that I would give to anyone else starting out. If something doesn’t work out the way that you had planned (and whatever does), don’t become disheartened, pick yourself up and move onto the next thing.
What keeps you busy at the weekends? Most of the time it’s spent stressing about Everton Football Club. I try to get to games as much as possible but obviously this season hasn’t been particularly inspiring, but there’s always hope for the future! Aside from that, it’s meeting up with friends and family, getting out for walks or having a meal together.
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking? For me, it’s just a pint – when in Ireland, it has to be Guinness.
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film? I’m actually more of a podcast guy so at the minute, I’m listening to Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett. His guests are incredible and I’ve learned so much about business through it.
If you could be a superhero, what super- power would you choose?
I think it would definitely be Dr Strange so I could go back in time! BMJ
ON THE MOVE
York-based Burton Roofing Group has appointed Jon Smith as its new operations director.
Talasey has appointed Sam Hanks as director of strategy & proposition, Rebecca Hughes as marketing director and Peter O’Loughlin who joins as national sales manager. The three key appointments have been made to bolster its senior management team as part of ambitious growth plans.
Burton Roofing Group’s managing director, Ian Leigh, said: “Jon has excellent experience and an impressive track record in managing multi-sites and achieving operational efficiencies. He has expert insight in streamlining businesses by implementing processes and systems that bring effectiveness, but he also has the leadership skills to motivate teams in a positive culture. We look forward to welcoming him to the senior leadership team.”
Lakes, manufacturer of shower enclosures, has appointed two new regional sales managers. With a combined total of over 40 years in sales Carol Wilson and Alex Wilson will be supporting customers in the North West and North East respectively.
July 2023
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 23
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