New Appointments in Facilities Management – April 2024

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• New Appointments in Facilities Management – April 2024

24 April 2024

This month’s new appointments roundup includes new starters at Service Works Global, Arcus FM, Palmer & Howells and more.

 

Picture: a graphic featuring the headshots of Mats Broman, Karl Lavery and Sharon Linney

 

Mats Broman to Succeed Gary Watkins as CEO of Service Works Global 

 

Addnode Group has announced that Gary Watkins, Group CEO of its subsidiary Service Works Global (SWG) has decided to step down on 1 May 2024, following which Mats Broman, currently Head of SWG Nordic, will take over the role as CEO of SWG. Gary will continue to lead Service Works International’s (SWI) operation in the Middle East.

Gary founded SWG 30 years ago and since it was acquired by Addnode in 2017, Gary and his team have grown the company three-fold.  “We have been planning Mats’ succession for some time,” commented Gary Watkins.  “Mats, supported by a UK General Manager, to be appointed, along with the strong management team, will bring continuity to the company’s next phase of growth”.

Addnode Group CEO and SWG’s Chair of the board, Johan Andersson, said, “On behalf of Addnode Group, I want to thank Gary for his incredible achievements throughout the years. Since Addnode’s acquisition of the company in 2017, Gary and his team have continued to grow this international leader in digital solutions for facility and asset management, both organically and through acquisitions. He has brought tremendous value to employees, customers and shareholders. I’m confident that Mats will continue this journey, taking the company to the next level.”

Mats Broman responded, “I’m honoured by the opportunity to build upon the legacy that Gary and our team have created over the years, and I’m excited to lead SWG into the future. We are well positioned to capitalise on the significant opportunities ahead, combining software and industry knowledge to create sustainable value for our customers.”

 

Arcus FM Appoints New Director of Projects

 

After the acquisition of the Trios Group in August 2023, Arcus has been working hard behind the scenes to explore how they can best serve their customers and people throughout the integration. This includes revitalising their projects division, Arcus Projects.

Karl Lavery has been appointed as Director of Projects at Arcus FM, transitioning from his role as Projects and Commercial Director at the Trios Group. With over 20 years of experience in leading operations, projects, and business development across construction, engineering, and commercial real estate, Karl brings a wealth of expertise to the role as the business continues on its growth trajectory. The integration of Arcus and Trios projects teams marks a significant milestone, bringing together a copious amount of experience and a shared commitment to excellence. As Director of Projects, Karl will be leading strategic initiatives to ensure continued growth, customer satisfaction, and sustainability in the FM industry.

Karl Lavery, Director of Projects at Arcus FM said: “Individually, the Arcus and Trios project teams were already doing great things, and by integrating the strengths of both teams we’ve significantly bolstered our capabilities, cementing our dedication to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

“It has been an exciting few months working to support the integration and getting to know who Arcus is; a company that puts its people and customers first.

“I’m looking forward to expanding upon the work we’ve been doing, enhancing our customers' experience, and offering a truly national solution.”

 

Palmer & Howells Appoints New National Director of Operations

 

Palmer & Howells, specialist independent school and workplace caterer, has appointed Sharon Linney as National Director of Operations.

Sharon is highly passionate about the hospitality industry, having studied hotel and catering management. Sharon started her career as a Graduate Trainee, working for the Inner London Education Authority in the education catering department. Sharon quickly progressed, gaining valuable experience along the way in operations, catering development, and training.

Moving on to the commercial world of contract catering to Aramark UK where she stayed for many years gaining experience and further development. Sharon enjoyed working in operational audit, compliance and operations management – which is where her passion truly lies.

More recently, Sharon has worked for CH&CO, firstly as an Operations Director in its successful London Vacherin business, being part of the team when this business enjoyed significant growth; and latterly as Director of Operations, UK, successfully leading its independent schools business. Sharon was voted amongst the Top 50 women in UK foodservice in 2022 by The Association of Catering Excellence (ACE).

Commenting on her appointment, Sharon Linney said: “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to join the senior leadership of Palmer & Howells to drive excellence through its talented team to deliver an exceptional service for clients, workplace employees, pupils and parents; ensuring we serve consistently appetising, modern and healthy food which is freshly prepared, bursting with flavour and locally and ethically sourced.”

Jeremy Alderton, Managing Director of Palmer & Howells, said: “We are excited to welcome Sharon to the team. She has successfully worked at Operations Director level for over 15 years, combining her energy, experience and deep passion for client relationships, team development, charity partnerships, coaching and mentoring, together with an enthusiasm for food innovation and service excellence, resulting in strong contract retention.”

Sharon joined Palmer & Howells in March and will foster innovation to grow the business while upholding its commitment to create seasonal menus featuring fresh and tasty ingredients responsibly sourced from local and regional suppliers – a testament to supporting the local economy and reducing its carbon footprint.

 

Kings Secure Technologies Announces New MD for its Fire & Life Safety Division

 

Kings Secure Technologies (KST) has announced the appointment of Matthew Blakey as Managing Director for its group companies, EFire and Silver Group.

With the responsibility of leading both EFire and Silver Group, Matthew will be pivotal in developing the companies into becoming the UK’s leading fire & life safety systems and AOV providers. Matthew will also play a key role in developing the already outstanding reputation of both businesses.

With over 8 years’ experience in the Fire and Security industry, Matthew has held multiple roles including General Manager and Europe Business Lead for Stanley Security (Stanley Black & Decker Group), this alongside managing his own business, doubling its size in less than three years. Matthew brings a strong set of skills including business development, company acquisition management, relationship building and mentorship, leaving him poised to lead both companies into the future.

Matthew's corporate accomplishments and personal achievements are equally impressive. His outstanding contributions led him to be selected as a 2012 Olympic Torch Bearer in London, an honour bestowed upon him by the CEO of Carphone Warehouse. His dedication and achievements at Stanley Security were recognised globally, culminating in him receiving the highest honour award, the "For Those Who Make the World Award," presented by the CEO in Miami.

Expressing his excitement about joining KST, Matthew outlined his immediate plans and vision for the EFire and Silver Group. He emphasised the importance of people, culture, and growth, affirming his commitment to fostering a collaborative, driven environment where employees are empowered to excel. Matthew's vision includes harnessing the company's exceptional in-house expertise to position it as a major national player in the fire sector.

Commenting on his new role, Matthew stated, "I am thrilled to join KST and lead the Fire division towards its next phase of growth. By prioritising our people, nurturing a positive culture, and driving sustainable growth, I am confident that we will unlock our full potential and achieve remarkable success."

KST CEO Bob Forsyth said “Matthew’s appointment is an important building block for our ambitious growth strategy in the Fire and Life Safety sector. We are delighted to have him onboard.”

 

First Response Group Appoints Prominent Industry Leader as Group Managing Director

 

The senior leadership team at national, multi-award winning First Response Group (FRG) has been further boosted by the appointment of Barry Dawson as group managing director, bringing with him 35 years of experience at the highest levels of the UK security industry.

Taking up his new position on April 2 (2024), Dawson is described by the group’s CEO Simon Alderson as “the final piece of the jigsaw” needed for FRG to achieve the company’s ambitious growth targets of £150m over the next five years. Dawson’s security industry experience includes being at the helm of Advance, Vision Security Group (VSG) and most recently Wilson James, where as its managing director he successfully built up the business through a combination of organic growth in strategic sectors and carefully targeted mergers and acquisitions.

In addition to a track record in driving sales growth, Dawson has led teams across many business disciplines, including crisis management, operations management, private investigations, systems, and emergency risk management, with senior c-suite experience in some of the most respected blue-chip companies in the UK.

Commenting on the appointment, CEO Simon Alderson, said: “This is a significant move for us here at FRG, and no doubt the ripples will be felt across the UK security sector.

“Barry is an industry heavyweight, and with more than three decades of knowledge, experience, and insight I have absolutely no doubt he is the perfect fit to help drive our business forward, continuing the momentum over these past few years. We are adding weight and intelligence in the key areas of our business, which is what we need to be doing if we are to continue to challenge accepted orthodoxy in this highly competitive sector.

“I look forward to working with Barry, and helping him to build teams, empower people, and deliver success.”

 

Other Recent New Appointments:

 

• Infogrid Appoints New Board Members
• Andron FM Welcomes Third Generation of Family Leadership
• Amber Luscombe Appointed as Oxygen’s First Head of ESG
• Sean Ryan Joins Novus Property Solutions 
• Macro Appoints UK & Europe Regional Director

 

Picture: a graphic that features a pale yellow background and several icons indicating business, including puzzle pieces, a lightbulb, a speech bubble, and a bar chart. Image Credit: Pixabay

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 24 April 2024

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