Managing Director - Independent Builders Merchant

---

This is an excellent opportunity to join a long established South East based independent builders’ merchant.  They trade successfully from a number of locations with a broad range of products from timber to heavy building to plumbing.  They supply customers across many home counties as well as throughout London.

The business has benefited from numerous investments over recent years: new vehicles, IT and warehouse equipment.  There is a committed branch management and sales team.  They are in a strong financial position.

They are now looking to recruit a new MD to take the business forward.  Potential candidates should have:

• A successful track record of profitably running and growing an SME, multi-site distribution business as MD/General Manager
• Experience in such a role within the builder’s merchant sector beneficial but not essential - we're open to considering candidates from other types of multi-site/multi-product B2B distribution
• Can successfully operate in such an environment without the support structures of a larger corporate and can cope with the pressure of needing to achieve results
• A proactive, inquisitive, common sense approach
• Naturally strong communication skills – across all levels of the business
• Willingness to roll sleeves up and always looking for opportunities to improve the business
• To be customer facing and enjoy doing this
• Also interact with and attend meetings at industry trade associations, events and buying groups as required
• Based within a commutable distance of London (or willing and able to relocate within a reasonable time-frame), with regular travel throughout the branch network as part of the role – this is not an ivory tower/purely office-based job
• Fit in with and positively develop the culture within the organisation, ensuring respect for all within the business
• A self-starter and can operate at pace – no procrastination here please!
• Energetic and creative, resilient and tenacious
• Can deliver the right level of information up and down the structure as required
• Leadership of the highest calibre: inspire, lead, motivate, engage with people throughout the business
• Be commercially and financially aware, ensuring the team understands this too

There is a competitive salary and benefits package

To apply please send CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast growing and successful direct sales/e-commerce retail/distribution business. This business has grown £5m to over £50m in the last 10 years has plans to more than double over the next 5 years through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. Whilst successful in their own right they are also part of a £900m international group.

However, this is only half of the story because they have a fantastic, award winning culture (open-door, collaborative, with regular communication and employee recognition) combined with excellent feedback from their customers. They have invested significantly in their business in terms of people, IT, facilities, products and marketing. Now they're reaping the rewards.

With such growth comes opportunity. Following a promotion they are now looking to recruit this key role of Head of Category Management with additional responsibility for merchandising - which in this business means how the products are displayed in their catalogue and on the website to make it easier for customers to find the products they want and choose the right products for the job (whilst of course maximising sales and cross-selling opportunities!).

There are opportunities to improve category management within the business - developing a full lifecycle approach in order to maximise sales and margin whilst growing the product range both within existing and into complimentary categories. A team of circa 12 people requires leadership, motivation and development.

Naturally we're looking for candidates to have relevant experience and a successful track record in similar role in a similar type of business - especially with experience in direct/e-commerce sales rather than just traditional bricks and mortar retail or trade distribution. Specific industry/product knowledge is not required, though anything related to consumer durables/home improvement/DIY would be beneficial. Experience of successfully leading a team within this function is also required.

This is a broad role with an important remit both within its function and working with other teams: marketing, operations and sales in particular, and contributing to the development and successful deliver of their strategy as part of the senior management team. Clearly excellent communication skills are a prerequisite alongside the ability to thrive in their open culture.

In the short-term the objective is to deliver world class category management into the business. Beyond this role there are good progression opportunities as the company continues to grow. 

The company are based in the South East so potential candidates need to either live within commutable distance or be able to live away for the majority of the week or relocate.

There is a competitive salary, bonus and benefits package

 To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

 This is an excellent opportunity to join a market leading brand within the building products industry. They have a proud history and an impressive track record of growth over a considerable period of time. The UK business is one the leaders within the group, helping to form strategy for their European parent company (circa £1bn turnover) and its subsidiaries and even legislation for the sectors in which they operate. They have a broad range of products, including some that are bespoke, across a number of applications (for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential projects), some of which are manufactured here in the UK, others by sister companies and some product bought in. 

Despite their success they are not resting on their laurels. They see plenty of opportunity for growth and improvement. Hence this new role, to partly support the Marketing Director from a strategic perspective whilst also taking responsibility for the marketing team across who operate across all aspects of B2B marketing. With continued investment in facilities, people and products, they have the foundations in place, along with a supportive senior team - of which there is the opportunity to become part for this role and to have a broader remit in the future.

Suitable candidates should have a successful track record in a similar role in a similar environment, hence a good understanding of building products supply, with further success in leading and developing marketing strategy and teams and an understanding of the complexities of specification sales with product then sold through distribution and marketing to different decision makers throughout this process.

You should live within commutable distance of their office which is not far from Milton Keynes. There will be some travel in the role: to exhibitions and the group head office in Europe. 

There is a competitive salary, good bonus, car or car allowance and comprehensive package of benefits

To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

This is an excellent opportunity with a well-established, successful and growing importer and distributor of specialist heavyside/landscaping building products.  With the backing of their parent company, a global manufacturer of such products, they are embarking upon an exciting and ambitious period of growth.  There is a significant market opportunity for them with a broad portfolio of products, ranging from value to premium.

In order to deliver this growth they require additional high calibre individuals within their sales team to increase coverage, strengthen existing relationships and most importantly, develop new accounts.  Their main route to market is via builders merchants.  They already have a strong relationship with members of the Fortis buying group.  Now they're looking to expand beyond this into the other buying groups, other independents and the nationals.  They're open to exploring other routes including DIY, garden centres and specification.

Naturally we're looking for candidates with experience in similar/related products within the heavyside product category, combined with a successful track record in senior sales/business development/account management roles within the buying groups, independent and national builders merchants.  Knowledge of the key contacts within these customers is essential.

There is a positive culture, no politics or micro-management, a supportive head office team, large stock levels and a spacious, well located distribution centre.

This is a home based role with both regional and national travel.  Exact location of potential candidates doesn't really matter.

Salary - to attract the best, bonus, car and benefits

 To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion  

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast growing company that has some fantastic, innovative, products designed and manufactured in the UK, which provide a better user experience than traditional ones, whilst also producing significant savings in terms of water and energy use (up to 75%!).  This mean not only considerable cost savings for the building owner (with payback frequently within just 6 months!), but also great PR by being able to promote their green credentials - saving huge amounts of CO2.  One recently example of an installation in a Leisure Centre is going to save over 120,000 kg of CO2 and running costs of over £50k per annum!

Alongside their existing products there are others in the pipeline which will give them a comprehensive portfolio for different applications across residential, multi-occupancy buildings, commercial and industrial.  They will grow extensively across the UK and internationally over the next 5 years making this an outstanding opportunity for this individual to play a key role in the growth of this exciting organisation.

We're looking for an engaging, self-sufficient and results orientated Specification Business Development Manager to lead the specification business development activity from initial enquiry through to successful delivery.  They're open to exploring various sectors where their products could be successfully installed: hotels, apartment blocks, gyms and leisure centres, halls of residence, hospitals etc.  Experience of specification selling into one or several of these sectors would be an advantage.  Specific product knowledge is not a prerequisite, however experience with bathroom/sanitaryware related products would be an advantage.  Otherwise, experience in similar specification business development role in another category within building products is sufficient.

The role reports to the CEO and the Specification Business Development Manager will work closely with the Marketing Manager in devising and executing against the sales and marketing plan.

Success will be measured in managing the sales pipeline and exceeding revenue and margin targets. The role holder will also be expected to manage a number of key accounts (national gym chains and others) with support, where required, from the CEO.

Potential candidates should have: 

• Experience at generating  specification sales
• Experience of working as a Business Development Manager in the commercial sector and / or selling to facilities directors or developers in other multi-occupancy buildings.
• Proven experience of working in a B2C and / or B2B sales role with technical or installed products and a track record of sales achievement in a competitive market.
• Strong written and verbal presentation skills - essential for the delivery of professional sales      presentations, proposals, and tenders.
• Self-motivated and self-sufficient, comfortable with working under own initiative and proactively seeking new business opportunities.
• Commercially focused and results driven – evidenced in previous roles with sales success
• Technically astute, with the ability to distil complex products into business benefits

This is a unique opportunity - a fast growing company with some amazing products that pretty much sell themselves - for most clients it's a no-brainer to install these products.  With the growth of the business will come exciting career development opportunities.

The role will cover the South and South East of the England in the first instance so ideally candidates would live either along or south of the M4, or in the surrounding home counties, with the head office being in Hampshire.  Naturally this role will not be office based, working from home and involving pretty much full time travel.  We're also interested in another candidate to manage the North/North West region, so applications would also be welcomed from candidates with a similar background in that part of the UK.

There is a competitive salary, an uncapped bonus (circa £20k for on target performance), car or car allowance, pension and other benefits.

 To apply send your CV to neil@wilsonbrook.com or call 07796 542641 for a confidential discussion