LANDSCAPING A
fter nearly half a century at the helm of Tobermore, one of the UK & Ireland’s leading construction manufacturers, owner David Henderson
announced major changes at the top. Alongside his day-to-day role as managing director, Henderson will also become chairman following the creation of the company’s first ever board.
BMJ: How do each of you see your role and the role of the board in the business? David Henderson: I see myself as being on the board, and part of what’s going on at Tobermore on a day-to-day level. People will still see me in the factory, and I’ll be working with the senior leadership team and Glenn Robinson, our general manager to run the company. As chairman, I’ll be joined by board members Glenn and Daniel Anderson. Our role is to have oversight of how the business is run, to advise the management team, to be a source of help for them, as well as to give direction and guidance.
Daniel Anderson: My role as non-executive director is to be independent, bringing insight and support while building on processes, people and governance to support the phase of growth. Glenn Robinson: Like David, I will sit on both the senior leadership team and the board, so will also be a link between the two structures. I think the creation of the board is a really exciting time for Tobermore, but also reassuring regarding the future of the business. Tobermore is 82 years old and David’s been at its forefront for 48 years as managing director and has been the driver behind its success. Appointing a board of directors will allow us to continue to build on our strong foundations, while preserving Tobermore’s integrity and family values. Having begun work with Daniel I know he feels passionate about these things too. DA: The creation of the board will ensure that Tobermore continues to have a socio-economic impact in the local area, and that it continues to operate with integrity. The board will create oversight and will ensure the vision and values of Tobermore continue. We’re sending a strong
PAVING THE WAY
Tobermore has restructured its topline management, creating its first board. BMJ sat down with the directors for a chat about plans for the future and its legacy.
signal to the market that Tobermore is ready for its next phase of growth.
BMJ: How will creating the board help Tobermore meet the needs of merchants? DH: On a day-to-day basis, merchants will notice very little difference. We will continue to offer a wide range of decorative paving, permeable paving, retaining walls, facing bricks and walling, and hard landscaping products. All of which will continue to be backed up by the high levels of customer service that we are known for, and have won awards for.
Longer term, the creation of the board will give us strategic direction, it means that we will be able to look at market needs and ensure we are ready with innovative new products that merchants’ customers will want and need. GR: As well as price, product availability is essential for merchants – they want to know that their orders will be delivered in line with the customers’ schedule of works. For this reason, we hold large quantities of stock and operate our production lines strategically so priority orders can be fulfilled, even at short notice.
BMJ: Tobermore has had one of its most successful years in its history. What’s next? DH: Over the past year, we have made financial decisions that will set Tobermore up for the
future. I believe the overall management of the business has improved in a whole host of areas including production and sales. DA: As a non-executive director, I’m looking forward to taking a higher, horizon scan of the market, looking at macro drivers as well as sector trends, and at the opportunities that are available for us as a business. I’ll also be looking at what Tobermore’s senior leadership team wants to achieve, and I’ll ask those difficult questions, such as: ‘how will you execute that?’, ‘how will that decision be applied?’ My role is about governance, independent oversight, and challenge. It’s about making sure the engine room of Tobermore continues to run well. GR: Daniel coming in and the creation of the board is such a healthy thing. It will give us the chance to take a step back from the daily tasks and ask ourselves some very challenging broader questions about what we want to do now, where we want to be, and how we’re going to get there. We can look forward very positively because everything’s in place, Tobermore has a really strong foundation. We have the capacity and the right teams, it’s just a matter of how we build on that. DH:Exactly, and there’ll be some exciting announcements over the next 12 months, as we get those plans in place. n
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A supplement to builders merchants journal September 2024
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