PEOPLE 10 MINUTES WITH: MD of eco-cistem™
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it? I am currently MD of eco-cistem™, which is a brand new innovation that is saving fresh mains water on a larg-scale. It is a toilet cistern that uses the waste condensate water from air conditioning units to flush toilets. The idea came from an MEP contractor looking for ways to use condensate water, and they ask me to help them bring it to market. Launched in March this year, we are already selling it via merchants to the commercial market.
What does your role entail? I’ve been heavily involved in getting the product manufactured here in the UK and putting it through relevant tests to secure its specification. I have been busy getting the product installed in several offices and hotels, and ensuring that the fresh water savings it is making are being monitored. It is delivering great results, we are averaging 64% peak water savings in the projects installed to date, and its success is gathering momentum.
How did you get started in this industry? At Spring Ram Bathrooms in the mid 1990’s. But most recently, I was the managing director of Just Trays, a business I joined in 2000, and sold in 2019. My intention was to semi-retire and do some consultancy work.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? I initially worked in sales although as md at Just Trays, I was involved in all aspects of the
The Rainy Day Trust has appointed Anna Skeats as its new chief executive officer, following the retirement of Bryan Clover. Skeats joins with over 20 years of leadership
experience across the NHS, public health, corporate, and charity sectors.
Lawsons has appointed Allun Pittingale as chief executive officer. Pittingale’s industry experience includes five years at IBMG most recently as COO; four years at Travis Perkins
plc as regional managing and five years at Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery.
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business. All that experience, along with the contacts I have made over the past 30 years in the bathroom industry, have helped me bring eco-cistem™ to market, and I am confident it will achieve large-volume success worldwide.
What would you like to achieve? Build the business and become a leader in water renewability. eco-cistem™ is genuinely a breakthrough in toilet technology. As the climate gets warmer and we see the sales of aircon units grow across the world to keep us cool, installing a toilet cistern that uses the condensate waste water from these units to flush a toilet will become the norm. Even a small aircon unit produces around a litre of condensate per hour, and fitting this cistern is so easy, it’s just a simple diversion of the condensate to go into the cistern instead of into the waste.
What has been the highlight of your career so far? Growing the Just Trays business to be a market leader, a Special Achievement Award I received for my contribution to the bathroom industry at the KBB awards in 2016. The development of eco-cistem™ has to be one of the most exciting, especially as it’s making a difference at a time when water is becoming more scarce and will undoubtedly become more expensive.
What do you see as the main issues at the moment?
The volatility of raw material pricing is a significant concern, especially in a market where contracts must be quoted well in
Croydon builders’ merchant, Harris & Bailey has promoted David Harger to sales director. Harger joined the business at 16 in 2010 and takes on the role having
gained an expertise working in different parts of the business.
Keyline Civils Specialist, part of Travis Perkins plc, has appointed Huw Jenkins as its new managing director. Jenkins joins from CEVA Logistics, where he was
managing director for the contract logistics activities in the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics.
advance. The market is very challenging, and I believe supply has been a major issue since COVID, which is why I wanted eco-cistem™ to be made in the UK, to ensure its availability and to add provenance to the product.
If you could make one major change to the industry right now, what would it be? Too much adversarial negotiating in the market today. It’s in all our best interests to work cohesively to grow the industry.
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself? Have no regrets and learn from your mistakes.
What keeps you busy at the weekends? Enjoying downtime. It’s essential to have time away to refresh.
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking?
A very good glass of red wine.
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film?
Film: The Shawshank Redemption. Book: I always wait for the film to come out
If you could be a superhero, which super- power would you choose? It would be to be Malbecman – with the ability to drink unbelievably large quantities of red wine, especially if from the Mendoza region of Argentina. BMJ
ON THE MOVE
Pavestone UK has appointed Alex McLeod as the group’s new chief executive officer. He will report to the shareholders through outgoing CEO, Jon Layton, who continues as executive board lead
director, helping to shape long-term strategy.
St Andrews Timber & Building Supplies has appointed Kevin Johnston as finance director. Johnston, formerly commercial director and chief finance officer with Edinburgh Leisure, has
managed finances for multinational companies including healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2025 PAUL CROSSLEY
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