The Managing Director of leading roof tile manufacturer, Russell Roof Tiles, (RRT) is celebrating a major milestone. Andrew Hayward (who has been in his current role since 2004) joined Russell Roof Tiles 30 years ago as a Sales Executive.

During his career at Russell Roof Tiles, Hayward has seen the business grow from a single plant operation in Scotland (with a turnover of £9 million) to the opening of the new Burton on Trent site, which produced its first tiles in 1991, to today with a dedicated UPVC site and a turnover in excess of £30 million.

With previous sector experience, initially with an international supplier, working in both technical and sales when he joined Russell Roof Tiles, Hayward swiftly moved up the ranks becoming an Area Manager, then Regional Manager supporting customers across the Midlands and South, before becoming National Sales Director in 1996 and then taking over the helm in 2004.

Over the past 30 years Hayward has been involved with a huge number of changes at the business. In 1997 Russell Roof Tiles acquired a UPVC business and opened a 28,000sq ft factory in Burton to produce the company’s dryfix accessories, along with a further 5 acres of land at the Burton tile plant. This was followed in 2000 with a brand new multipurpose premium thin leading-edge line at the original Lochmaben site. 

Under Hayward’s leadership the business has grown substantially with ongoing investment increasing efficiencies across the operation, with the most recent announcement of a £1.7 million capital investment project in Lochmaben.

He has also led the business successfully through various ownership, following the sale of the business by CEMEX in 2011 to the current owners, Crown Global Equity Group which has interests in Roof Tiles in the US and Mexico.

Six years ago, Hayward also led the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of RRT manufacturing at the Lochmaben plant and 25 years in Burton on Trent. He has been responsible for introducing many new initiatives across the business including the Community Fund as well as various other staff programmes, earning many accolades including Employer of the Year and Manufacturer of the Year.

Hayward commented: “Over the past 30 years Russell Roof Tiles has succeeded despite three recessions and now a global pandemic. Much has happened in our industry since 1990, from the day-to-day way we work, manufacturing to how products are specified and installed on sites, but today we are faster, more efficient and have grown capacity innovatively to meet market demand.

“After a rollercoaster year following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am pleased to be celebrating this milestone and proud to be able to lead such as passionate and successful team. We’re looking forward to the future with the ambition of achieving a turnover of £40m within the next five years.”  

Russell Roof Tiles is the largest independent manufacturer of concrete derivatives in the UK pitched roofing market and employs 140 staff across its three sites (two in Burton) and Lochmaben, Scotland.