CHEADLE: 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.
Mr Barker joins Wienerberger from Wavin where he project managed the repositioning of the firm’s products, building key relationships with builders merchants and developers.
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 managing director 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 range, through a single management structure."
