Tobermore, one of the UK & Ireland’s leading construction manufacturers has appointed its first board of directors in what it says is preparation for the company’s next phase of market expansion.
The new board will sit above the company’s current senior leadership team to provide strategic direction, governance, and oversight.
In addition to his role as managing director, David Henderson will become Tobermore’s first chairman, where he will be joined by the company’s general manager Glenn Robinson, and also Daniel Anderson, who will serve in an independent non-executive capacity.
Mr Henderson said: “We have an excellent management structure in place that has contributed to Tobermore’s substantial growth in recent years and helped make it the great business that it is today.
“But, in my 48 years at Tobermore, I’ve learnt that to succeed, you must be prepared to change and adapt. So, as we continue to build on our strong foundations and look to the next exciting chapter in Tobermore’s story, the time is right to appoint our first board of directors, who will act as a voice of objective challenge and provide impartial oversight to the business.”
Daniel Anderson, appointed as Tobermore’s first independent non-executive director, spent much of his career working across the capital markets in the US and London.
After returning to Northern Ireland, he helped establish one of the region’s first private equity investment funds, Cordovan Capital, which has invested in, and helped grow, over a dozen businesses.
He said: “I’m passionate about supporting and growing Northern Irish businesses. What David, Glenn, and the team have built in Tobermore is exceptional, so I’m delighted to be joining the board and I look forward to working with them to help develop and add value to the business whilst also being a good steward and ensuring the correct governance is in place.”
The third member of the board is Tobermore’s general manager Glenn Robinson. He first worked for the company on a temporary basis during the university summer holidays then, after graduating, joined permanently as business improvement manager. He was promoted to general manager in 2008.
Since then, he has focused on driving sales, helping David to take the company from an independent SME manufacturer with 240 employees that only sold in Ireland to one with a multi-million pound turnover, exporting 70% of its product to Britain and employing more than 400 people.
Glenn said: “David has not only steered Tobermore through a great many challenges but has been instrumental in ensuring the company has come out stronger each time. His decision to become chairman and the formation of the board heralds the next phase of the company’s development and growth.”
In its most recent trading year Tobermore reported a 10% fall in sales from £85.4 million to £76.9 million, pre-tax profits fell 44% from £19.3m to £10.9m and staff numbers fell from 463 to 416.
