I can’t believe it!
I’ve been overlooked in the annual Window Industries Top 30 Most Influential people in the window and door industry. Has anybody else in the double glazing industry got 60 subscribers???
I can only assume that I have rattled too many cages this year, either that or I’m just not as important as I think I am.
Anyway, the list of the 30 biggest names in the double glazing industry for 2008 are:
1. Stuart Chambers
He is the President and CEO of NSG Group after previously being CEO of Pilkington, and I must admit I’d never heard of him. According to Window Industries:
One of Britain’s world class managers is now performing in Japan on the world stage. Though distant from the UK his decisions and guidance will have a significant impact here in the UK. Stuart has the power to influence world flat glass prices and, unlikely though it may be, to affect British glass prices at will. That’s why he is number one this year.
2. Jim Rawson, Epwin chairman
From modest beginnings in the late 1970’s, Jim is credited as being among the very first, if not the first, to bring PVC-U windows to the UK. The Epwin Group now boasts more than 30 brands, employeeing more than 2,200 people and an annual turnover of £197million.
3. Brian Kennedy & Stuart Lees, Latium
The names behind Ultraframe, Wendland, Spectus, Kestrel BCE, Celuform, Everest, Weatherseal, and Zenith / Staybrite.
As I suggested in a previous post, Brian Kennedy is a man on the up, despite having a quiet 12 months.
4. Gary Dutton, chairman, Synseal, Nick Dutton, Door Stop
I think Window Industries summed it up pretty well:
Probably the best manufacturer and the best marketing man in the industry.
Gary’s not bad either.
5. Roy Eady, Everest
Roy is the man at the head of probably the biggest brand name in the industry and joined Everest in 1999 as executive chairman. Everest is now a fully diverse home improvement company employing more than 2,000 people with sales of £170m.
6. Wolfgang Gorner, Rehau
With the unforgettable name, Wolfgang has been instrumental in changing the old fashioned perception of Rehau, and is helping the systems company achieve growth in a challenging market.
7. Bob welsh, Technal
Supplier to the aluminium industry.
8. Roy Wakeman – The Performance Window Group
Save a tree, buy uPVC!
9. Eddie Robinson – Smarts Aluminium
Supplier to the aluminium industry.
10. John Ogilvie – Network Veka
John is the head of the UK’s second most influential dealer network in the UK.
Network Veka is a great brand and has been a major influence on the new leading dealership concept.
11. Winston Duguid – Bowater Building Products
Winston runs a £70m a year vertically integrated supply chain to the industry, with WHS Halo recently moving into position number three in the market.
12. John Ross, Style Group
The head of Safestyle UK.
13. Graeme Bailey, Business Micros
One of our industry’s true gentlemen. Graeme runs Business Micros which is the industry’s leading software, and I wish my company used it.
14. Andy Jones, Edgetech
One of the biggest names in the industry, and I’m surprised he’s only at number 14?
15. Sam Kennedy, Spectus
Sam is credited with reviving the fortunes of Spectus over the last two years and made a good attempt at trying to generate debate in the industry last year.
16. David Strang, L.B. Plastics
A surprising new entry into the Top 30, although I accept I don’t know very much about LB or David.
17. Tony Walsh, Freefoam
Freefoam supply roofline, cladding, rainwater and decking products from manufacturing sites in Ireland and the UK.
18. Paul Neilson, Kestrel
Managing Director of Latium Building Products, the controlling company behind three of the leading PVC-UE and PVC-U building material brands, Kestrel, BCE and Celuform.
19. Charles Greensmith and Simon Bird, GAP
Top Blokes!!!! They manage to combine having a good time with running a highly successful business.
20. Andrew Glover, West Yorkshire Windows
Never heard of him.
21. Mike Derham, Mighton
Managing Director of Mighton Products, a supplier of hardware and accessories for sliding sash windows for timber and PVC-U.
22. Chris Brunsdon, Timberwindows.com
Annoyingly good at promoting the benefits of timber windows.
23. Wayne Devine, Masco Windows Group
Vice President of Masco Group which includes leading industry names such as Duraflex, Premier Trade Frames, Griffin and Cambrian Windows.
24. David Ruzicka, Sash UK
Despite working only a few miles away from me, I’ve never met Dave, but fully respect most of what he has to say about the industry.
25. Alan Burgess – Masterframe
Alan is the leading name in the PVC-U sash window industry, and is now the chair of the GGF’s Home Improvement Executive, FENSA and the BFRC.
26. Derek Bonnard – Promac
Derek is the managing director of the leading machinery and service specialist Promac Group.
27. Kieran Lavery, Camden
Over 25 years Camden has become a successful Irish super fabricator supplying products to the UK and Ireland.
28. Martin Randall, Crystal
Martin heads up another large fabricator of PVCu frames, and has recently set up the Fighting Back With Facts campaign, making the case for PVCu.
29. Justin Ratcliffe, Council for Aluminium in Building
The CAB has established its position as the mouthpiece of the resurgent aluminium industry and Justin continues to promote the aluminium industry beyond its core market.
30. Andrew Wakelin, Commercial Director, SIG
Taking the final spot in the 30 most influential people in our industry, Andrew is commercial director at SIG Roofline and Building Plastics.
—————————————-
Well done to all the highly important people on the list!
A special well done to the bloke at Number 20. But watch out, I’m intending leapfrogging you next year!
A couple of quick notes:
Why are there no ladies on the list? I know it’s a male orientated industry but I can think of a few ladies who should have been in the mix.
Also, other than myself, why were the following not included:
Andrew Green from Greenway Home Improvements
Anyone from K2 or Ultraframe
Anybody from the hardware sector such as Richard Gyde or Kevin Harvey
Tags: Brian Kennedy, Edgetech, K2 Conservatories, Latium Group, Safestyle UK, Spectus, Synseal, Timber Windows, Ultraframe, Zenith Staybright
Hi, I would like to introduce myself, as your brother. I know it must be hard to see in such an important list, that not only did I beat you, you were not even in the list.
RCG…… Try harder next year.
Also, I believe I am the only local installer that made the grain. What is happening out there, we are the forefront of the industry. I know the rest of them play a part, but if it wasn’t for us, they would have no business at all.
Come on installers, join the game!!!
By the way, if anyone wants to sponsor me for doing the Ride 4 Hope, ride across America, then please go to http://www.justgiving.co.uk/andrewglover as I am currently riding across and I have a very sore arse and legs….. I need the money!!!!!
Cheers
Shame Roy Eady is no longer heading Everest and now heads up the Four Seasons operation in the good old US of A-and has been for the last year!
We’ve been overlooked again! The G08 Finalists have just been announced as follows:
Fabricator of the Year
Emplas Window Systems
Lancashire Trade Frames
Masterframe Windows
Installer of the Year
Warmseal
T & K Home Improvements
Rooms and Views
Glass Company of the Year
AWJ Group
Camden Group
Pilkington Plyglass
Glass Project of the Year
Carey Glass / Hurricane Architectural – Sunderland’s Aquatic Centre
Alumet – Carnival’s new headquarters in West Quay, Southampton.
DuPont / Saint-Gobain Glass – Chapelle des Diaconesses
Conservatory Installer of the Year
Sherborne
T & K Home Improvements
Warmseal
Training and Development
GAP
Europa
Everglade
Energy Efficiency Initiative
Beaufort Secure
Pioneer Trading Company
SWC Trade Frames
Health Safety Award
Alumet
Pilkington Building Products
Safestyle.
Oh well, don’t worry too much there obviously not switched onto the internet yet, that’s the problem they’re just behind the times..
Perhaps they should do an award for the best overall website and blog and then you’d win both categories…
Andrew
PS thanks for the mention, maybe one day! It certainly would be good! But then a welsh man on the 30 most influential scary…!!
Do you know the 2009 list???