MERCHANT FOCUS : BENCE GROUP A
company that has seen off seven pandemics, two World Wars, 13 recessions and is currently on its seventh monarch, is setting itself
up to face the future. More than 170 years since the first George Bence set up as an oil, lead, glass and colour merchant in the Mount Pleasant area of Cheltenham, there is a new CEO at the sixth- generation family-run Bence Group. Managing director Paul Bence moves into the newly created Chief Executive Officer role, and will focus more on strategy, and the Group’s overall direction and long-term development. To support the changes, there’s a new senior leadership structure. Taking over from Bence as managing director is Kris Winters, who brings more than 24 years’ experience across the merchanting sector. He’s had senior leadership positions with both independent and national merchants across the UK and Ireland, covering sales and operations, running large networks of branches across the South East and London and country leadership of external sales teams. Also joining the SLT is new sales director Xalla Heath, who will be responsible for sales and margin performance across the business. With her, she brings a decade of experience working in the region with two major UK merchanting suppliers. Carlwyn Coombes is now group operations
director, formalising a role he has effectively been occupying for some time.He willl continue to oversee operations and technology across the Group, with his more than 15 years’ experience within the business. His focus will be on ensuring the Group’s operational infrastructure, systems and processes support its people and customers effectively, while creating a platform for further growth. The wider leadership structure will also see Elaine Emerton continue as group financial controller, with responsibility for the day- to-day finance function across the Group’s multiple branches, while Chris Bence continues as chairman.
The changes cover the Group’s merchant businesses in Cheltenham, Ledbury and Swindon, as well as Bence Windows and
ALL CHANGE AT CHELTENHAM
More than 170 years old, the second oldest business in Cheltenham is gearing up to take on the future, as Fiona Russell Horne finds out.
Doors and the high-end Obsidian Interiors. Winters said: “I’m delighted to join Paul and the team at Bence. The business has a fantastic heritage and tremendous local reputation with tradespeople. There is a real opportunity to build on the strengths that already exist within the business while being very clear about where we need to improve and the opportunities for growth. “We know the market remains challenging but with the best people, commercial disciplines and best local service staying closer to our customers than our competitors we will be well placed to take market share and advantage of the opportunities that exist.” Heath said: “There is a huge amount of experience and knowledge within the business, and my role will be about bringing
October 2026
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
greater focus to sales & margin performance, developing our teams and making sure we’re consistently putting the customer at the centre of what we do.”
Paul Bence said: “This is all about having a sharper focus on a changing market. We have a great team and a great opportunity ahead of us. The new structure gives us superior clarity around responsibility and allows each part of the business to receive the focus it needs. “We remain very proud of our heritage as a sixth-generation family business, but our focus is firmly on the future and building a business that will continue to succeed for the next generation. We now have clear senior accountability across the areas the Group believes will be critical to its future performance.” BMJ
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