10 minute read
Movers & Shakers
Ian Brown appointed Thwaites Deputy Chairman
After more than 30-years at Thwaites, 20-years as sales director and three-years as managing director, Ian Brown has been appointed deputy chairman. To provide continuity and advancement for colleagues, financial director Simon Hill, who has been with the company for eight-years, becomes managing director. Tim Frost who has spent over 30-years in various key positions is promoted to the management team as commercial manager. Current UK sales manager Andy Sabin who has worked at Thwaites for more than 20-years is appointed to the position of general sales manager for UK and Export markets.
Ian Brown said “These changes will further develop the business as we maintain our investment in the factory and product development with the focus on enhancing our customer base in UK and Export markets”. CEA chief executive, Rob Oliver paid tribute to Ian, saying, “He has been a consistent and valued voice at Thwaites for many years and I am certain he will still have a lot to contribute in his new role”. ■ Ian Brown appointed Thwaites deputy chairman - L-R: Tim Frost, Simon Hill, Ian Brown, Andy Sabin
Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe has announced the appointment of Sungwoo (SW) Lee as the new managing director
Hyundai Construction Equipment names Sungwoo Lee as new managing director for Europe
HCEE (Hyundai Construction Equipment Europe) announced the appointment of Sungwoo (SW) Lee as the new managing director with effect from December 2019. With over 20 years of service at the Hyundai group, SW Lee brings a longstanding international sales career to Europe. SW Lee replaces JH Chun who will return to Korea where he will lead the international marketing team of Hyundai Construction Equipment.
Mr. Lee is already very familiar with the European organization. He worked as a construction equipment sales manager in the European subsidiary from 2005 until 2009. His priority is to focus on a proactive sales strategy. This will involve growing the European dealer network, setting up a key account management structure, and an advanced market-oriented product strategy.
SW Lee commented on his new appointment, he said, “At HCEE we are striving to become a top player in the worldwide Construction Equipment business. In a stabilizing European market, we wish to grow our market share in a sustainable and profitable way. Growth in our market share will lead to higher brand visibility. Growth in the quality and quantity of both our organisation and dealer network will be our primary goals to achieve this. We will continue to focus on the 3 E’s: Embrace our dealer network, Excel in what we do and Engage our internal teams.” ■
SPAL appoint Adam Betteridge as business development manager for Agricultural and Off-Highway aftermarkets
SPAL Strengthens its Team in Off-Highway and Agriculture Sectors
SPAL UK, now in its 11th year in business has appointed Adam Betteridge as business development manager for Agricultural and OffHighway aftermarkets.
With an automotive and agricultural pedigree gleaned from Vanmatic and Corteco, Adam will be in his element in his new role consolidating former customer relationships and developing the market for SPAL’s high-performance axial fans and centrifugal blowers. “Every day is a ‘school day’ as I get to grips with SPAL and its huge product range,” he says. “However, I am really eager to build immediate customer relationships. I am the guy who will put on his wellies to attend a breakdown in the middle of a field so I can relate to the customer on a personal level before I clinch the sale.”
He mixes sky diving and golf with fundraising for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and local Warwickshire charity The Ups of Downs, in memory of his daughter Freya. He says, “I am looking forward to the challenge of growing the business and customers can expect an invite to a charity golf tournament in the next few months!”
Matthew Morris SPAL UK MD commented: “Really pleased to have Adam on board. He knows the market extremely well; in terms of his personality and capabilities (apart from favouring golf over cycling) he is a great fit for the rest of the team!” ■
elobau UK has announced the appointment of Alex Roberts to the company’s team in the role of sales engineer for industrial and offhighway vehicle applications.
Alex brings over six years of experience and knowledge of working with electronic components across various industries within the technology sector for companies such as Wurth Electronics, from the design stage to production. Alex will be responsible for managing key accounts as well as developing new accounts and continuing to raise brand awareness for elobau UK.
Matt Owen, managing director of elobau UK said, “This really is an exciting time for elobau UK, as we are developing our brand and increasing our presence in the UK market. Alex will play an important role in helping us drive the brand forward and I wish him every success in the role”.
elobau UK offers a range of robust and reliable, ergonomically designed and user-friendly operator controls, as well as level measurement and sensor products that are designed for the offhighway industry. ■
Alex Roberts is named as new sales engineer at elobau UK for Industrial and Off-Highway Applications
Hill Engineering appoints new head of global business development
The Newry, County Down-based, developer of the award-winning, time-saving Tefra hydraulic quick coupler has recruited John Lines to head up a major drive to further develop its growing global sales business. John has extensive experience in the excavator attachment business and in fact previously worked for Hill Engineering around nine years ago, as sales and marketing director.
In that time the company has continued to develop other innovative products and is regarded as a ground-breaking manufacturer of ultra-safe and robust, simple-to-operate attachments. The company now requires a dedicated focus to capitalise on the global interest in Hill’s portfolio, to take it truly international, and to break into new, emerging markets through OEMs and end users.
John said: "I am delighted to be back working with the team at Hill. The company has developed hugely since I worked here last and has rightly won awards for both its products and its operations. Our portfolio is now in great demand in many key global markets and I’ll be working hard to support the efforts of the entire Hill team to satisfy the needs of our worldwide customers and partners.” ■
John Lines re-joins Hill Engineering to further develop its growing global sales business
David Phillips will retire as chairman of Off-Highway Research, effective from 1st April 2020.
He has been a pivotal figure at the specialist market research and forecasting company since its inception as part of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in 1981. Following a management buy-out from the EIU he owned and ran the business from the early 1990s until its acquisition by KHL Group in 2015. He was also the first inductee into the CEA Hall of Fame in 2018.
Commenting on his retirement, David Phillips said, “It has been almost 40 years since I founded Off-Highway Research, and with the company now in the very capable hands of KHL and Chris Sleight, I have decided to retire in April. I have been blessed by the support of a uniquely skilled international research staff, a very large and loyal group of clients, and many wonderful memories of an exciting and varied career. But now it is time to pass the baton on to the next generation, who I am sure will continue to support the global construction equipment industry as OffHighway Research has always done in the past.”
KHL Group managing director, James King said, “With a long career in the sector and as an in-demand speaker at conferences and events, David is incredibly well-known around the world and highly respected for his industry knowledge and experience. He will be missed by his colleagues and many industry friends around the world. We wish him well for a long and happy retirement.”
Off-Highway Research will continue to be run by managing director Chris Sleight, who took over the role in 2018. An article by Chris on the market in the Philippines is featured in this issue of Construction Worx. ■
David Phillips – an appreciation
CEA chief executive, Rob Oliver, reflects on the news that David Phillips is to step down from the chairmanship of the company he created, Off-Highway Research…
My recollection is that I met David Phillips for the first time on a grey day in Croydon in the mid-80s. Nothing remarkable in that, Croydon has had many grey days. Fast forward nearly four decades and he was the first entrant into the newly launched CEA Hall of Fame. As the only member of this select club at the time, he must have felt somewhat lonely as at heart David is a people person. That is what built his Off-highway Research company, providing data and insights in the world of construction equipment, into a global leader. Keeping ahead of the game, he established offices in China and India, whilst others hesitated. The friendly relationships he has fostered with industry leaders over the years are legendary. But behind the bonhomie there has always been his commitment to attention to detail and the commitment to fact, probably engendered by his time at the Economist Intelligence Unit. As I write this, I am double-checking that I have not misplaced an adjective or apostrophe. Whilst David is stepping down from active work with OHR, he will continue to travel the world in his retirement as he works through the formidable “bucket list” drawn up for him by his wife, Cora. His numerous charitable commitments will also continue to benefit. All his friends at the CEA raise a glass of something sparkling to him for the good times spent in his company and the good times still to come.
12 SPRING 2020 David Phillips to retire from Off-Highway Research
Tributes paid to veteran JCB employee who dies at 86 - LtoR in 1947 at Crakemarsh are Bill Hirst MBE, employee number one Arthur Harrison, employee number two Bert Holmes and company founder Joseph Cyril Bamford with a young Lord Bamford in his arms.
Bill Hirst MBE – who was the third person recruited by JCB in 1947 – died early this year at the age of 86.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford led the tributes to the man who joined JCB as the company was in its infancy. Lord Bamford said: “Bill and his generation helped my father to build a company which became a real force in the world of construction equipment. Bill was very proud to have worked for JCB and will be remembered by many, many people from the early days of the company.”
Bill, the fourth of eight children, joined JCB as a 14-year-old tea boy when he left St Joseph’s School in Uttoxeter, where he had been Head Boy. He was recruited on a salary of £1 a week when the company was based at stables at Crakemarsh, three miles down the road from JCB’s World Headquarters at Rocester. And it was Bill who was instrumental in the relocation to Rocester in 1950 to the site of a former cheese factory. Bill knew JCB founder Joseph Cyril Bamford was searching for a new location for a factory and suggested the Rocester site – because it was closer to home and meant he could spend an extra 10 minutes in bed each morning!
He was awarded the MBE for services to export in the New Year’s Honours List of 1975 and, after fulfilling a number of different roles, he became technical services director in 1981. Bill Retired in 1991. Speaking on JCB’s 65th anniversary in 2010, Bill said: “I am proud to have been part of JCB – it’s been my life.”
