Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has appointed three new senior leaders, as the building materials supplier to the public sector continues to see increased demand for its services and expertise. Ryan Kellingray has been named Operations Director, Ben Lewis joins JPS as Head of Ranging and John Moss has been hired
GLP is pleased to announce several significant new appointments within its Clean Energy team in Europe. Under the leadership of Stefano Fissolo, Senior Director, GLP Europe Clean Energy, the team is expanding its capabilities to meet the increasing demand from customers for clean energy solutions across the logistics sector. GLP
Leading property management company Rendall & Rittner has appointed Alan Todd as Programme Manager to oversee the delivery of its technology transformation project including MyPlace, its market-leading new customer portal. Alan will have responsibility for the implementation of the whole programme across all stakeholders internally and externally. His remit includes
Aquarian Cladding Systems, a leading distributor in the UK cladding industry, has announced a significant leadership transition that will mark an exciting new chapter for the company. On September 1, Jazz Rigden, was promoted to the position of Managing Director of the company from her role as Sales Director. Jazz
Caddick Construction Group has opened new premises in Birmingham, marking the business’ expansion into the Midlands following the appointment of Ray O’Sullivan as Regional Director. The new office, located at Northspring, will be home to a team tasked with replicating Caddick Construction Group’s success in the North East, North West
Taconova UK, a leading provider of intelligent building technology solutions, has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Behfar Abedinia as General Manager. Behfar will lead the UK team as it continues to champion the adoption of sustainable heating technologies, offer comfort solutions, and support customers in their
NATIONAL building products company, PermaGroup has appointed Duncan Kirkwood as its new managing director to spearhead the organisation’s ambitious growth plans. Collaborating alongside long-standing director, Adrian Buttress, Duncan brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the roofing and building products industry, having held senior positions at the likes of Marley Building Materials, Icopal Limited and
Spencer Group has appointed a Managing Director for its rail division, experienced and highly respected industry professional Mike Halliday. Mike joins the multi-disciplinary engineering specialist from Network Rail, where he has served as a route delivery director for the last six years. In his new role, he will drive Spencer
Baxi has appointed James Matthews as the new Head of Public Health to lead its technical specification and sales team in supplying energy-efficient low-carbon hot water solutions involving Heatrae Sadia and Andrews Water Heaters products. James joins Baxi with a wealth of experience gained from previous roles within the construction
FOLLOWING its expansion into the north of England in late 2022, engineering consultancy Hexa has continued to solidify its presence in the region through the appointment of three new team members. In line with an increased project portfolio and capabilities, a milestone for the consultancy came with the appointment of director Richard
Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has appointed three new senior leaders, as the building materials supplier to the public sector continues to see increased demand for its services and expertise. Ryan Kellingray has been named Operations Director, Ben Lewis joins JPS as Head of Ranging and John Moss has been hired as Business Development Director, with all bringing a wealth of expertise from varied careers within the industry. The hires follow the appointment of Scott Cooper as Managing Director across both JPS and its sister company George Boyd, the architectural ironmongery and commercial door sets distributor, earlier this year. Both brands are part of STARK Building Materials UK and the move helped to strengthen the existing synergies between the companies as they continue to see increased demand from the public sector, particularly within social housing. Cooper said: “The last three years have been incredibly successful for JPS and we have established ourselves as a trusted supplier for housing providers and public sector organisations in the UK. “During this time, we have doubled our turnover and we intend to continue growing in both size and ability, investing in knowledge and skills that will ultimately help our customers and their end users. “By enhancing our senior leadership structure, we can take our quality of service to the next level, as well as expanding our product range to help customers navigate the ever-evolving challenges facing the public sector. Two of our new recruits have previously worked for our customers and suppliers, so they can bring invaluable real-world experiences of challenges and opportunities that our customers face.” Speaking of his appointment, Kellingray said: “I have always looked on and admired the JPS business, especially the recent trajectory it has been on. When the opportunity came up to be part of the business I couldn’t wait to get started and help shape the continued growth we are aiming for in the coming years. “I have a strong operations and sales background, which I’ll be using to help land our growth plan in the market whilst maintaining the strong customer partnerships that have already been developed.” Adding to this, Lewis said: “Having had previous experience in the material supply chain within the housing sector, I’ve had the opportunity to work with JPS and have always enjoyed doing so. I’m delighted to now be supporting the business from the other side, and will be working to improve the customer experience even further so we can maintain a reputation as a truly trusted supplier.” Reflecting on his new role, Moss said: “Working alongside JPS in recent years has given me a great insight into the impressive trajectory of the business and its incredibly collaborative approach with its customers. “My work within the social housing sector for more than 14 years has provided a real understanding of its needs and I wholeheartedly share the JPS passion for partnership. I’m thrilled to be joining the business at such an exciting phase of growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GLP is pleased to announce several significant new appointments within its Clean Energy team in Europe. Under the leadership of Stefano Fissolo, Senior Director, GLP Europe Clean Energy, the team is expanding its capabilities to meet the increasing demand from customers for clean energy solutions across the logistics sector. GLP Europe Clean Energy invests in and operates onsite renewable energy solutions to decarbonise the built environment by deploying rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicle infrastructure and other adjacent technologies. New appointments across operations, partnerships and investments to strengthen team and accelerate business growth: Manuel joins as Director, Asset Management, responsible for managing GLP Clean Energy’s portfolio of assets throughout their life cycle, managing technical and ESG due diligence, driving the adoption of best practices and new technologies within the business, and implementing value enhancement initiatives. Manuel has ~15 years’ experience in the energy industry sector across asset management and engineering, having managed and/or overseen the operations of more than 1.3 GW of projects across renewables technologies including solar PV, onshore wind, battery energy storage and biomass. Manuel joins from Glennmont, where he managed the development, construction, operations and divestment of renewable plants across Europe, and has held previous roles working as a consultant, project engineer, and technical manager at various reputable renewable energy corporations. Pablo has been appointed Director, Business Development, focused on originating and developing renewables projects and creating the offering suite of onsite and offsite power purchase agreements for GLP Clean Energy customers. Pablo has built deep expertise over 14 years in the energy and renewables sector across business development, sales, portfolio management, M&A and strategy. He previously worked at ENGIE, a French multi-national energy company, where he led the transformation of the company, developing new businesses in renewable energy infrastructure onsite and offsite in North and Latin America. Tobias joins as Vice President, Investments, responsible for forming and executing GLP Clean Energy’s investment and financing strategies. Tobias brings over 10 years’ experience originating and executing infrastructure and clean energy financing projects, totalling over €630M of capital invested across over 90 deals, from his time in roles at SUSI Partners, MEAG and Siemens Bank. Servando is an Investment Associate, supporting on all investments and related activities. He has over 5 years’ experience in renewables across utility-scale and onsite projects, and previously held roles in both the development and investment teams of Plenium Partners, a Madrid based infrastructure private equity firm. GLP continues to support the global energy transition by investing in solar, wind, electric vehicles and battery storage and charging technologies for its assets. At the end of 2022, the firm had 700+ megawatts (MW) of solar capacity installed on the rooftops of its real estate portfolio and third-party rooftops which contributes to lowering CO2 emissions. The clean energy generated is sold back to customers and utility companies, which has the potential to help reduce the pressure on local electricity grids and ties into GLP’s overall ESG and sustainability goals. Stefano Fissolo, Senior Director, GLP Europe Clean Energy, commented: “Our team’s collective track record spans the entire technology spectrum of the energy transition and covers the full project lifecycle of renewable energy assets both from a transactional and operational standpoint. This will be an invaluable asset as we continue to expand our activities. We are seeing record levels of demand for decarbonisation solutions from across our existing and prospective customer base, as the logistics industry increasingly understands the important role it has to play in the global energy transition. We’re proud to be a sustainability leader in the sector, and with our strong and growing team we will continue to push innovation and progress in this area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property management company Rendall & Rittner has appointed Alan Todd as Programme Manager to oversee the delivery of its technology transformation project including MyPlace, its market-leading new customer portal. Alan will have responsibility for the implementation of the whole programme across all stakeholders internally and externally. His remit includes co-ordinating the rollout of the system across Rendall & Rittner’s entire portfolio of developments over the next 12 months, ensuring training for staff, facilitating ways of working and managing customer impact. He has already established a cross-functional programme steering group with involvement from senior management to help ensure employees are engaged and on board. MyPlace has been developed as a bespoke, next generation online platform that will provide an easy to use, one-stop shop for customers. Also being introduced is a Customer Engagement System to enhance customer communications, whilst a client portal will start to be built from late this year. Alan has over twenty years’ experience in leading large programmes for a wide range of major companies including Mastercard, Western Union, Co-op and the Football Association. His expertise is in supporting and enabling major change within organisations, and he has broad experience across a variety of business sectors. Alan says: “I am very pleased that I can bring my broad experience and skills to deliver this major change to Rendall & Rittner effectively and efficiently. My role is to make sure that there is a plan in place that brings everything together at the right time to ensure our technology transformation project, including MyPlace, is implemented in a structured and successful way.” MyPlace and the Customer Engagement system are live and being used by the first group of properties, following their successful trials earlier in the year. More developments are being added constantly with the rollouts continuing in the coming months and into 2024. Richard Daver, Group CEO of Rendall & Rittner comments: “Successfully carrying through this sort of transformational change requires collaborative and joined up working across the business. We are delighted to welcome Alan to the team, who will be pivotal in driving the delivery of our digital transformation project forward and leading our company-wide commitment to make it as successful as possible for our customers, clients and ourselves.” Find out more at: https://www.rendallandrittner.co.uk/about-us/technology/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aquarian Cladding Systems, a leading distributor in the UK cladding industry, has announced a significant leadership transition that will mark an exciting new chapter for the company. On September 1, Jazz Rigden, was promoted to the position of Managing Director of the company from her role as Sales Director. Jazz joined Aquarian Cladding Systems in 2015 and throughout has played a pivotal role in driving sales growth, fostering customer relationships, and advancing the company’s strategic goals. Her extensive experience, leadership skills, and deep understanding of the cladding industry make her the perfect candidate to lead the company into the future. “I am honoured to take on the role of Managing Director at Aquarian Cladding Systems and eager to build upon the strong foundation laid by my co-directors Paul Richards and Julian Venus, along with the entire team,” said Jazz. “Our commitment to innovation, quality, sustainability and teamwork will remain unwavering as we continue to deliver exceptional products and services to our entire supply chain.” Paul Richards, the founder and current Managing Director of Aquarian Cladding Systems, will transition to the position of CEO of Aquarian Holdings. In his new role, Paul will focus on the broader strategic vision of the company, exploring new opportunities for growth, and overseeing the operations of Aquarian Holdings as a whole. “I am proud of the remarkable journey we’ve embarked on at Aquarian Cladding Systems,” said Paul. “With Jazz’s leadership, I’m confident that the company will continue to thrive and innovate. As CEO of Aquarian Holdings, I look forward to steering the group toward even greater success.” The transition in leadership roles is a testament to Aquarian Cladding Systems’ commitment to nurturing talent from within the organisation and ensuring a seamless progression of leadership. This change positions the company to build on its strengths, drive innovation, and continue to provide the highest quality cladding solutions to clients across the UK. For more information about Aquarian Cladding Systems and its cladding solutions, please visit www.aquariancladding.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction Group has opened new premises in Birmingham, marking the business’ expansion into the Midlands following the appointment of Ray O’Sullivan as Regional Director. The new office, located at Northspring, will be home to a team tasked with replicating Caddick Construction Group’s success in the North East, North West and Yorkshire. Taking a 5-year lease at the Temple Street office, the Group is set to target new projects in both the public and private sectors, building its portfolio of commercial, education, industrial, leisure, residential, care and retail projects. The launch of the new office closely follows the appointment of Ray O’Sullivan as Regional Director for the Midlands, becoming the latest move in the Group’s ambitious growth strategy. Paul Dodsworth, Construction Group Managing Director, commented: “Launching our Midlands office is an important milestone in our growth strategy; it’s a move that has been in the pipeline for some time and allows us to bring our business’ financial stability, expertise and quality to the regional market. Central to this is our appointment of Ray O’Sullivan to lead the team, and his expertise in the region sets us on a very strong footing as our business embarks on an exciting new chapter.” Ray added: “There is a wealth of opportunity in the Midlands and Caddick’s established position in the industry places it as the perfect construction partner in the region. Launching our new office is just one piece of the puzzle, and myself and the team here in Birmingham will be spending the coming months building our project pipeline and working with the regional supply chain to support our growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Taconova UK, a leading provider of intelligent building technology solutions, has strengthened its senior leadership team with the appointment of Behfar Abedinia as General Manager. Behfar will lead the UK team as it continues to champion the adoption of sustainable heating technologies, offer comfort solutions, and support customers in their drive to reduce carbon emissions. With distinguished roles at large organisations such as EDF, SSE, and E.ON, Behfar has a proven-track record of navigating intricate regulatory environments. By establishing collaborations with industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and government departments Behfar has previously secured funding for energy efficiency initiatives, particularly those backed by government schemes. His profound understanding of heat network technologies will fortify Taconova UK’s commitment to delivering sustainable, cost-effective metering and billing solutions. “We’re thrilled to welcome Behfar to the Taconova UK team,” said Ralph Seewald, Managing Director of Taconova. “With over two decades of deep-rooted experience in energy efficiency, Behfar’s expertise is an invaluable addition to Taconova UK.” Reflecting on his new role, Behfar remarked, “Being appointed as the General Manager for Taconova UK is a tremendous honour. The company, distinguished for its high-quality, resource-efficient products, caters to a diverse range of sectors – from residential properties to commercial edifices and public facilities. I am keenly looking forward to offering unparalleled service to our customers, harmonising sustainability with fiscal prudence.” Under Behfar’s leadership, Taconova UK is well-positioned to continue its mission of offering reliable, low-maintenance, and highly efficient solutions that save customers time, effort, and money. For more information about Taconova, its products and services, please visit http://www.taconova.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NATIONAL building products company, PermaGroup has appointed Duncan Kirkwood as its new managing director to spearhead the organisation’s ambitious growth plans. Collaborating alongside long-standing director, Adrian Buttress, Duncan brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the roofing and building products industry, having held senior positions at the likes of Marley Building Materials, Icopal Limited and most recently as MD of Carlisle Construction Materials. Duncan said: “I’ve known of PermaGroup for many years and have always admired the business and Adrian’s vision for it. For me, now is the perfect time to take on this new challenge at a business that I really believe in. I just love roofing and have been passionate about it my entire career, but I’m equally excited to expand my knowledge to the other areas of the business including modular builds and fencing – I can see real opportunities to grow the group as a whole.” PermaGroup has plans to extend its products, services and training capabilities, with its successful PermaRoof Registered Installer Scheme potentially rolling out across other facets of the business. Duncan added: “With me being based in the south, I’ve got fantastic connections that can further expand PermaGroup’s presence down here and into London. Adrian and I already have ambitious plans that we can’t wait to action but for me, it starts internally. “Company culture is hugely important, and I’m eager to implement things that improve on what Adrian has already established across the group. Of course, no company growth can happen unless the employees and clients are brought on the journey too.” Duncan will take on much of the day-to-day activities working with Adrian on the strategic development plans. Adrian said: “Welcoming Duncan to the team is exactly the right move for us to take the next steps as a business. We both have the best interests of PermaGroup in mind, not just for the investors but for our team and clients too and we’re excited to unlock the business’ full potential. It’s fantastic to have Duncan’s expertise and a fresh pair of eyes on the PermaGroup, ready to drive it forward and I’m eager for us to start working together.” To find out more about PermaGroup, please visit: www.permagroup.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Spencer Group has appointed a Managing Director for its rail division, experienced and highly respected industry professional Mike Halliday. Mike joins the multi-disciplinary engineering specialist from Network Rail, where he has served as a route delivery director for the last six years. In his new role, he will drive Spencer Group’s rail division forward as it delivers transformative projects across the UK. Reflecting on his appointment, Mike said: “I’m delighted to be joining Spencer Group, which has a reputation for innovation and engineering excellence. I’ve spent the last six years with Network Rail, developing supply chain strategy and delivering projects – and will draw on this experience to grow and align Spencer’s rail division. “My focus will be on the upfront development side of the business, and on realising the full potential of its internal design capabilities. I’m committed to ensuring that we truly align with and understand our clients, avoiding change and unnecessary delays in delivery. Mike added: “I’ve spent most of my career as a contractor – but, after joining Network Rail, I gained invaluable client-side experience. Six years later, I’m confident that I understand the organisation’s requirements – and the needs of other rail clients. I began my rail career with Spencer Group and know that meeting these needs is in its DNA. Now, I’m really looking forward to shaping and building our rail offering with the help of my team.” With 27 years of industry experience, qualified engineer Mike is well-equipped to lead Spencer Group’s rail division – a business he first joined in 1996. Over the course of 11 years, he helped to grow it into a Tier 1 contractor and was made a main board director. During this time, Mike drew heavily on the skills he had acquired as an engineer on complex heavy civil engineering projects. Helping to deliver highways and bridges, he also developed a solution-driven style and straight-talking approach. After leaving Spencer Group in 2007, Mike became a private consultant – and was later offered the role of rail director at Story Engineering. By 2015, the business had become a well-established Tier 1 contractor and increased its turnover by 300 per cent. During Mike’s tenure, it was also named Supplier of the Year by Network Rail. He joined Network Rail in 2017, after a stint as infrastructure division lead at Wood Group. Serving as a route delivery director for the UK’s infrastructure owner and manager, Mike was responsible for the safe and efficient delivery of major projects. Commenting on Mike’s appointment, Spencer Group Managing Director Gary Thornton said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Mike to Spencer Group as our Managing Director of rail and to help drive forward our ambitions in the sector. Mike brings with him decades of valuable experience both contractor and client-side working for Network Rail and in his previous experience with Spencer Group. “Mike’s strong engineering background places him ideally to lead our team and build on our already fantastic reputation for project delivery in the rail industry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baxi has appointed James Matthews as the new Head of Public Health to lead its technical specification and sales team in supplying energy-efficient low-carbon hot water solutions involving Heatrae Sadia and Andrews Water Heaters products. James joins Baxi with a wealth of experience gained from previous roles within the construction industry, most recently as Business Development Director at Polypipe. Rob Erwood, Commercial Sales and Specification Director at Baxi, said: “We’re delighted to welcome James as our new Head of Public Health, working alongside Anne Wraith, our Head of Building Services, and Michelle Wright, our Head of Key Accounts. Commercial hot water generation is a vital service with unique challenges and opportunities, and James’s appointment reflects our commitment to providing exceptional support for our customers in this sector.” Experts in hot water systems and renewable/LZC technologies, Baxi’s Public Health team assists public health and mechanical engineers, contractors and commercial end-users in achieving the best solutions for every commercial hot water application. The company’s comprehensive commercial hot water portfolio includes Heatrae Sadia electric hot water solutions, Andrews Water Heaters gas-fired water heaters, buffer vessels and cylinders, Remeha air source heat pumps, and prefabricated packaged plant rooms. James said: “This is an exciting time to be joining Baxi, given the increasing focus on decarbonising heating and hot water in buildings. From specification to supply and commissioning, I am looking forward to leading my team in providing the best solutions and technical support for our existing and new customers as they transition to a low/zero carbon future.” For more information on the Baxi range of commercial hot water products, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
FOLLOWING its expansion into the north of England in late 2022, engineering consultancy Hexa has continued to solidify its presence in the region through the appointment of three new team members. In line with an increased project portfolio and capabilities, a milestone for the consultancy came with the appointment of director Richard Osbond at the end of 2022, spearheading Hexa’s growth into Leeds and the north of England. Richard, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, has since been working to build the team further. Three new experts have joined bringing a wealth of experience and skills from a mix of engineering backgrounds, which follows the appointment of senior technician Jake Adams in May, Bringing with them varied backgrounds in the industry, principal engineers Matt Freeman and Alex Hopton are now supporting Hexa’s capabilities in sectors including commercial, industrial and education. Alex experience is in building structures, while Matt has previously specialised in sustainable drainage systems and highway design. Speaking on his time with Hexa so far, Matt said: “Since joining the Hexa team in Leeds, I’ve been able to apply the knowledge I’ve earned throughout my career while also gaining new insight and skills. “From my first day, I’ve been excited by what we’re planning to achieve. I’ve had the opportunity to work on innovative projects, such as the civil engineering design for the UK’s first Passivhaus hotel in Runswick Bay; the kind of project every engineer wishes for when starting their career.” Balancing work and study, Usaama Yate, a project structural engineer is the third newest addition. Usaama has a background in various engineering realms including developing design concepts and ensuring compliance. Having spent five years in the sector, Usaama is also studying part time for a civil engineering degree at Leeds Beckett University. The team now reside at Studio 22 at 46, The Calls in Leeds City Centre, with Richard at the helm. Richard said: “Hexa’s expansion to the north started as a small idea and to now have an established team of five in total with a project portfolio that has grown organically, is something I am exceptionally proud of. “We’re lucky that with our Hexa North team, we’ve all had the pleasure of working with each other before, so we have those strong relationships that we’re able to continuously build on.” Since establishing its team in Leeds, Hexa has been working on several projects in the region including a multi-storey car park and multi-storey office block as part of the redevelopment of Whitehall Riverside. Hexa North is also involved in a number of high-level projects across England, alongside colleagues based at the Hexa head office in Nottingham city centre. For more information about Hexa, please visit https://www.hexaconsulting.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
