EJOT announced what looked to be a ‘cabinet reshuffle’ of its UK management team as 2017 drew to a close. In reality, it’s business as usual as key personnel involved had been operating progressively in their new roles for at least 18 months, as the company planned to accommodate a controlled expansion.
EJOT UK’s home grown manufacturing portfolio is now seeing a demand globally for its building envelope products, so no coincidence that outgoing Managing Director Chris Middleton now heads several of EJOT’s operating interests worldwide. Chris, who joined EJOT in 2007, will help maintain continuity as he becomes the new Chair of the EJOT UK Board. The mantle of Managing Director is now taken up by Robert Hardstaff, the company’s Financial Controller since 2004.
Robert said, “legislating for expansion in line with the Group’s global development is something that has been planned for years rather than months. We have worked hard to gain the confidence of the EJOT ownership in Germany, but our track record as a unit over the last ten years has proved our capability”.
Whilst the ethos behind the EJOT model is one of ‘solutions based engineering’, many overlook that the company’s knowledge-base emerges from two key markets; automotive engineering and of course, building and construction. Robert explained: “applications for our products cross many sectors but as a generalisation our sales engineers have traditionally serviced these two areas. With the recent acquisition of the Finnish manufacturer SORMAT, for example, it will be part of my job to manage our interests as holistically as possible – that means we continue to do what we’re best at by offering sound technical support for high performance products.”
Natural progression too, has played its part. Howard Jennings has retired after 24 years as Sales Manager for building fasteners and his role has been taken up by Richard Bowhay, 20 years with the company himself! Howard’s retirement coupled with demand from EJOT’s global subsidiaries has opened the door for Ben Gallant to become Export Sales Manager. Ben joined the company back in 2002 and has held several niche sales responsibilities including Solar and ETICS product management.
With Chris Middleton spearheading international interests, Operations Manager Simon Pearson will lead the UK R&D team. Simon is EJOT’s longest serving member of the UK management team and has been instrumental in many of the products that the company has brought to market and are now seen as industry standard solutions.