New commercial director for Wienerberger UK
7/8/2010
Wienerberger has appointed Keith Barker as commercial director for its UK operation. Mr Barker, from Wigan, will take control of the sales and commercial activities for all of the Wienerberger brands within the UK and Ireland.
As the world's biggest brick manufacturer, with 227 factories in 27 countries worldwide, Wienerberger incorporates a wide range of different brands within its product portfolio including Terca, Baggeridge Blues and Desimpel bricks; Koramic and Sandtoft Roof Tiles; the precision-engineered clay block walling system Porotherm; and a wide range of clay paving products.
Mr Baker's appointment comes as part of a strategic reorganisation of the UK and Ireland operation and sees the brick and roof tile activities brought under one joint Holding Board. The Ireland business was acquired as of the first of January 2010. The new board is headed by MD Harald Schwarzmayr and also comprises Operations Director Pat Furr and Finance Director Paul Stevenson.
Bert Jan Koekoek, Wienerberger's Executive Managing Director Northwest Europe, said: "The board will be responsible for the overall strategic direction of all Wienerberger activities in the UK and Ireland. As a market-leader in clay-based building materials, Wienerberger can provide customers with solutions for the total building envelope and it makes sense to maximise the cross-selling opportunities which exist across the entire product portfolio, through a single management structure.
"I am pleased to welcome Keith Barker to Wienerberger. His track record and experience make Keith the ideal candidate to take control of the commercial and sales operation and will help to provide the leadership needed to drive the business forward."
Mr Barker joins Wienerberger from Wavin - the UK's leading supplier of water management, plumbing and drainage systems - where he project managed the
repositioning of the firm's products, building key relationships with builders merchants and developers.
Mr Barker added: "I am delighted to be joining Wienerberger at what is a very exciting time for the company. The integration of brands such as Sandtoft - the number one in clay roof tiles in the UK - the Desimpel range, and the continual new product development and innovation synonymous with the brand, demonstrates Wienerberger's commitment to increasing customer choice and meeting the ever changing needs of the UK construction industry.
"I am very much looking forward to working with my new colleagues and further developing the Wienerberger offering."
Wienerberger UK is headquartered in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and has a further 14 manufacturing and distribution centres around the UK, including the recently opened Belfast sales office in County Antrim.
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Notes to editors:
Wienerberger is the world's largest producer of bricks and No. 1 on the clay roof tiles market in Europe with 227 plants in 27 countries. Wienerberger also holds leading positions in concrete pavers in CEE.
Wienerberger has been present in the UK for a number of years and is particularly known for its Terca brand of clay facing bricks.
In 2007, the company acquired Baggeridge Brick in the UK, which significantly increased its range to over 300 products. The further acquisition of roofing specialist, Sandtoft in 2008 consolidated its market position as number 3 in the UK and added to the breadth and depth of its extensive product and service offering.
Today, Wienerberger Ltd offers UK customers one of the broadest product portfolios in the business, including clay facing bricks (stock and wire-cut), specialist engineering bricks, domestic and commercial pavers, as well as the Corium cladding system and a full range of clay, concrete and slate roofing products. The latest addition to the UK offering is Ceram-validated Porotherm clay block, a precision engineered structural wall system which is extensively used across mainland Europe.
Wienerberger believes that the use of natural clay products helps to deliver a sustainable environment which is aesthetically attractive and architecturally sympathetic to its surroundings. Worldwide, the company is committed to minimising its environmental footprint and to maximising the long-term sustainability of the built environment and the UK Warnham factory has become the first brick manufacturing facility to be accredited with the responsible sourcing standard BES 6001.
For further information on Wienerberger and the range of products available, please visit our website www.wienerberger.co.uk
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Heather Butler
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