– UK, Bradford – Safestyle UK plc (AIM:SFE), the leading retailer and manufacturer of PVCu replacement windows and doors to the UK homeowner market, announces that Steve Birmingham will retire from the Board and the Company by the end of 2018. Following a thorough external search process, the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael (“Mike”) Gallacher as Steve’s successor as Group Chief Executive Officer.
Mike will join the Board as Chief Executive Officer on 1 May 2018, with Steve Birmingham remaining as an Executive Director of the Company to ensure an orderly handover and to see certain ongoing projects through to conclusion.
Mike Gallacher, aged 52, has over 20 years’ commercial and operational experience of building and managing businesses in the UK and internationally. He brings significant expertise in operational strategy, business development and performance improvement. Mike was most recently CEO of First Milk Limited, the UK major dairy company owned by British family farms, where he developed and implemented a major restructuring and turnaround strategy that delivered a £30 million improvement in business profitability in 24 months. This was recognised as the ‘Financial Restructuring of the Year 2016’ by the Institute of Turnaround Management.
Prior to First Milk, Mike held a number of senior roles at Mars Inc., including UK Managing Director for Mars Petcare. He also led significant business turnarounds in Asia for Mars, as well as working in regional leadership positions across both Asia Pacific and Europe. Prior to Mars, he was a British Army Officer for eight years.
Peter Richardson, Non-Executive Chairman of Safestyle, said: “Steve has been instrumental in the Company’s growth over the last 19 years and I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board to thank him for his significant contribution. I am pleased that he will be remaining in the business to ensure a suitable period of continuity and an orderly handover to his successor.
“Mike is a great addition to the Safestyle team and I am pleased that he has agreed to join the Board. His leadership qualities and commercial and operational experience, particularly in relation to performance improvement, will be invaluable to the business at this stage in its development.”
Mike Gallacher, incoming CEO, commented: “I am delighted to be joining Safestyle and look forward to working with Steve and the wider team to assess how best to take the business forward in the current trading environment. Safestyle has good growth potential and I am excited about the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
About Safestyle UK plc
The Group is the leading retailer and manufacturer of PVCu replacement windows and doors to the UK homeowner market.
For more information : http://www.safestyle-windows.co.uk
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