New commercial director for Wienerberger UK

Wienerberger has appointed Keith Barker as commercial director for its UK operation.

Mr Barker, from Wigan, will take control of the sales and commercial activities for all of the Wienerberger brands within the UK and Ireland.

Wienerberger incorporates a wide range of different brands within its product portfolio including Terca, Baggeridge Blues and Desimpel bricks; Koramic and Sandtoft Roof Tiles; the precision-engineered clay block walling system Porotherm; and a wide range of clay paving products.

Mr Baker's appointment comes as part of a strategic reorganisation of the UK and Ireland operation and sees the brick and roof tile activities brought under one joint Holding Board.

The Ireland business was acquired as of the first of January 2010.

The new board is headed by MD Harald Schwarzmayr and also comprises operations director Pat Furr and finance director Paul Stevenson.

Bert Jan Koekoek, Wienerberger's executive managing director Northwest Europe, said: "The board will be responsible for the overall strategic direction of all Wienerberger activities in the UK and Ireland".

"As a market-leader in clay-based building materials, Wienerberger can provide customers with solutions for the total building envelope and it makes sense to maximise the cross-selling opportunities which exist across the entire product portfolio, through a single management structure".

"I am pleased to welcome Keith Barker to Wienerberger.

His track record and experience make Keith the ideal candidate to take control of the commercial and sales operation and will help to provide the leadership needed to drive the business forward".

Mr Barker joins Wienerberger from Wavin - the UK's leading supplier of water management, plumbing and drainage systems - where he project managed the repositioning of the firm's products, building key relationships with builders merchants and developers.

Mr Barker added: "I am delighted to be joining Wienerberger at what is a very exciting time for the company.

The integration of brands such as Sandtoft - the number one in clay roof tiles in the UK - the Desimpel range, and the continual new product development and innovation synonymous with the brand, demonstrates Wienerberger's commitment to increasing customer choice and meeting the ever changing needs of the UK construction industry".

"I am very much looking forward to working with my new colleagues and further developing the Wienerberger offering".

Wienerberger UK is headquartered in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and has a further 14 manufacturing and distribution centres around the UK, including the recently opened Belfast sales office in County Antrim.

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