PEOPLE NEWS ON THE MOVE...
Alistair McAuley appointed new MD of Akzo decorative and paints sector Akzo Nobel has appointed a new managing director for decorative and paints United Kingdom & Ireland. Matt Pullen, managing director of Akzo Nobel Decorative Paints UK & Ireland and UK country director since January 2015, will leave the business at the end of May, to be succeeded by current UK & Ireland sales director Alistair McAuley. Matt (pictured right) joined the company in 2010 as marketing director for the UK & Ireland, adding the Northern Europe region to his portfolio in 2011. In 2016, he established the Dulux Academy training centre, in 2017 he managed the opening of the company’s £100m paint factory in Ashington, while also overseeing the closure of the Slough Manufacturing factory where paint has been made for nearly 100 years. Alistair McAuley has held senior roles in marketing, sales and the Dulux Decorator Centre (DDC), and co-authored the company’s new three-year strategy with Matt, launched earlier this year. Managing director of decorative paints, Europe and Africa, Jan-Piet van Kesteren said: “Matt made a vital contribution to AkzoNobel over a critical time. He steered the UK through an unprecedented period of change across the market, in the UK economy and within the business. AkzoNobel’s UK market share continued to grow throughout this time against enormous pressures. “In Alistair McAuley, we have a worthy successor with significant industry experience in a very wide variety of roles across the business.”
GIMA announces new council
The Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association elected its new council and appointed new president at its AGM on April 12.
The meeting took place at Ettington Chase Hotel,
Stratford-Upon-Avon, with over 65 members in attendance. During proceedings Chris Ramsden of Hozelock was pleased to pass the mantle of GIMA President over to Richard Pyrah of Kelkay after two years at the helm. The role of Vice-President will now be undertaken by Westland’s Simon McArdle. Elsewhere the role of Treasurer has been retained by Nigel Thompson of Nigel Thompson Associates. The role of Honorary Secretary for 2018/2019 will now be the responsibility of Craig Hall of Deco-Pak.
New council members elected for 2018/2019 include Dan Durston of Durston Garden Products, Neil Sims from The Scotts Miracle Gro Company, and Gardman’s Scott McCabe, the latter of whom was previously co-opted onto Council. These latest appointments means the GIMA Council 2018/2019 is now 11 members strong, made up of the following: Richard Pyrah of Kelkay, Chris Ramsden of Hozelock, Craig Hall of Deco-Pak, John Gomersall from Forest Garden, Heather Culpan of Burgon & Ball, Simon McArdle from Westland Horticulture, Matt Jackson of Mr Fothergill’s seeds, Mark Butler from Vitaxm, Scott McCabe from Gardman, Neil Sims of The Scotts Miracle Gro Company, and Dan Durston from Durston Garden Products.
Steve Millington leaves role as sales director of Tildenet
Following the successful integration of Bosmere products to the Tildenet range, Steve Millington will leave his role as Sales Director of Tildenet Gardenware in September and with further expansion in the pipeline, Tildenet will be shortly be recruiting further senior sales personnel to support the next phase of growth.
Mr Millington will not be playing an active
part in the Sales team during his notice period and account activity will be overseen by managing director, Andrew Downey and Glynn Davis, in his new role as national account director. Tildenet have recently welcomed Christian Needham as an office based Sales Manager and they will be backed by a team of seven sales support staff at Tildenet’s Bristol Headquarters. Andrew Downey said: “The team at Tildenet wish Steve Millington well following his valuable time with us.”
6 DIY WEEK 27 APRIL 2018
What is your background – how did you get to where you are today? After attending D.U.T. (Bachelor + 2 years), I joined Leroy Merlin and worked my way up from
being responsible for a
department, to store manager, and then director of a store in Paris. I went to leave Leroy Merlin to start my business. I was then entrusted with the launch of Leroy Merlin in Spain and, when my predecessor was appointed CEO of Auchan, I was entrusted with the mission of CEO of Leroy Merlin Group (international).
How do you spend an average working day? There is no typical day. When I was in store, it was from 9am to 7pm, but when I was CEO of Leroy Merlin Group I only spent 50 days of the year in store. I would brief/debrief with the manager of the store and shop tower and a third of my time was for teams, a third for clients, and a third for the governance (Supervisory Board, executive committee, audit committee, human resources committee…)
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? It was from Christian Dubois
(founder of Castorama), who meets me on vacation occasionally. Upon learning that I was hired at Leroy Merlin as department manager, Christian told me: “it’s a shame for Casto, but I’ll give you some advice: never forget that you have to take care of your salesmen, your customer and your product.”
What is your favourite memory/anecdote from working in the industry? Two Fridays per month, I spend a morning (over a coffee) with eight employees, in order to answer their questions, whatever they are. The first VISION approach (1995): a process of profound transformation of the company, an approach that aimed to involve all employees in the reflection and implementation of our strategies. This has generated an extremely strong dynamic in the company and which has contributed to the fact that ADEO and its business units have a very strong culture oriented towards the people (teams, customers, partners)
What motivates you? Economic performance through human performance, meeting
the people of our company and remembering that people are human in their work and not everything can be perfect.
How does it feel to be honoured on an international scale at this year’s Global DIY Summit? It is a very great honour that surprises me (I’m not used to receiving diplomas).
Even though Regis Degelcke was extremely adept at EDRA, I was very irregular in my presentation! I know the importance of EDRA and its mission within the DIY community.
What are the biggest issues facing the home improvement industry today?
Sharing economy and collaborative economy, contributor’s communities, customer’s communities, and digital. The welcome and advice our teams bring to customers.
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you? Maybe that I’m not actually a handyman!
www.diyweek.net
In the spotlight with... Damien Deleplanque
General manager at ADEO Group and winner of the 2018 Global DIY-Lifetime award
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