National Buying Group has appointed Paul Harrington to the role of Category Buyer to improve deals as well as partner-supplier relationships.
Harrington has spent over 25 years in the builders' merchant sector, giving him a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges NBG partners face.
Having worked with NBG previously at Buildit Gloster as a partner before joining NBG directly as a Category Buyer in 2026, Harrington understands how the group works and the value it brings.
Harrington said: "My priority is our partners: listening to them and making sure NBG delivers real, measurable value for their businesses. Over the next 12 months I want to improve our partners' buying, help strengthen their market positions and grow our Partner network, while building stronger supplier relationships that support them in what remains a challenging market.
"Merchants are dealing with squeezed margins, volatile product pricing, a softer housing and RMI market and rising operating costs, while continuing to give their customers the service they rely on. I believe NBG can help by using our collective strength to negotiate better terms, improving product availability through a robust supply chain, and bringing Partners closer to Suppliers so they can plan with confidence."
NBG Managing Director Mark Hughes said: "We're very pleased to welcome Paul back as Category Buyer. His market expertise will help us to improve deals for all NBG Partners, ensuring they can take advantage of the buying power we're known for. We're looking forward to seeing the impact of Paul's appointment and learning from the insights he brings from his years of experience."
