Four key appointments - two in newly created roles and two taking our sales team back to full strength - herald a new era for HPP's presence in the KBB marketplace.
Industry veteran Jason Taylor joins us in the newly created role of Contracts Manager, with a brief to build on our current success while seeking out new opportunities and marketplaces to broaden our business operations.
The other newly created role in our sales team expansion is that of Category Manager, which has seen the appointment of former IDS Senior Account Manager Ian Jones. He is concentrating on the decorative panel and worktop sector, creating new business, bringing in key accounts and building relationships with new and existing customers.
Jason joins us after 27 years at the UK arm of Pfleiderer, the German manufacturer of premium engineered wood products, laminates and resins, where he was General Sales Manager for 20 years and then Managing Director for seven. Before that, he spent nine years at panel manufacturer Kronospan, where he started his career in 1986.
He says: "It's a wide ranging role where I'll be looking at the existing customer base, HPP is very well known and kitchen and bedroom centric, but there are a lot of other markets out there where HPP's stock ranges can be consumed."
Having always worked in sales, Ian began his KBB career 10 years ago at wood-based products manufacturer Kronospan, where he first worked internally before going on the road. He then moved to surface technology and edge banding specialists Surteco UK, where he was National Sales Manager, before joining IDS 11 months ago.
In a break with our conventional induction, Ian is already on the road representing HPP immediately.
"This is a unique situation (after the demise of IDS), so I'll be trying to get in front of as many panel and worktop customers as I possibly can," he explains.
And we have welcomed a new National Sales Manager, Darren Booth, who has worked in sales for more than 20 years, starting his career with Sykes Distribution in Middleton selling kitchen door handles. He then moved into selling consumables for Germany-based Wurth, where he worked for 17 years.
"We're investing in people, sales and products and we're never going to stand still. I feel that coming here has re-lit a candle in me," he says.
Darren, the son of former Manchester City footballer Tommy Booth, takes charge of our nationwide network of reps and one of his first tasks was to welcome Jen Wilding, another former IDS employee, as Area Sales Manager for the Midlands.
She says: "Business is about people and HPP is the epitome of a fantastic people organisation. Clients speak very highly of HPP, which is why this role attracted me. I'm very keen to make an impact, share in the success and become part of the HPP family."
Deputy MD Gareth Evans says: "We're delighted to welcome Jason and Ian in new roles that will expand our horizons as well as consolidate our successes.
"Having our national sales team back to full strength is great news too. We're renowned for our customer service and having Darren and Jen on board will only serve to reinforce that reputation."