Tag Archive for: Appoints

KYMCO UK appoints new Senior Area Manager

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KYMCO UK appoints new Senior Area Manager: KYMCO UK has announced the appointment of Damian Butterworth, Senior Area Manager to cover Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland from 7th May 2024.

In his new role, Butterworth will be covering all products from the KYMCO range, including motorcycles and scooters, ATVs and mobility scooters and powerchair products.

KYMCO UK appoints new Senior Area Manager

KYMCO UK appoints new Senior Area Manager

Ideally placed to cover the important northern region for KYMCO UK, due to being based in Leeds, Butterworth brings extensive experience, due to previously held roles in the ATV and Marine sector for manufacturers such as Honda UK.

Butterworth commented: “I aim to bring a wealth of experience that will support and guide the KYMCO dealer network and ensure a quality support programme is in place for our growth plans for the future across all our business sectors.”

Butterworth began his career in the automotive industry over 35 years ago, starting out as an apprentice mechanic and rising through dealership ranks to management level which included training and business development roles.

Neil Keeble, National Sales and Marketing Manager, added:

“I am excited to have Damian join the KYMCO UK sales team, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience – and is a further example of our continued drive to fully establish ourselves in the UK ATV and 2-wheel marketplace to emulate our brand position in the mobility sector where we are a renowned market leader.

“Having worked alongside Damian for many years, I am confident his appointment will be a huge benefit to not just our dealer network, but to KYMCO UK also as we continue our long-term growth plans.”

Damian Butterworth, can be contacted directly via email on dbutterworth@kymcouk.co.uk or via telephone on 07803 000017.

Now in its 60th year, KYMCO, an abbreviation of Kwang Yang Motor Company, was founded in Taiwan originally as an overseas producer of Honda motorcycles for thirty years. In 1992, KYMCO began producing its own models under its own brand, by 2003 had acquired back Honda’s business interest and today markets its brand globally with motorcycles, ATVs and mobility scooters. For more information please visit www.kymco.co.uk

For specific media enquiries, please contact Neil Keeble: nkeeble@kymcouk.co.uk

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Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

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Kubota appoints Gary Walsh: Kubota (UK) has appointed Gary Walsh as agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Ireland.

Gary has considerable experience working in the sector, both at manufacturer and dealer level. After leaving school, he embarked on a career as a technician following completion of a four-year apprenticeship in Ireland.

Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

Kubota appoints Gary Walsh

He has been with Kubota (UK) for the last eight years, where his previous roles included that of regional sales representative across all Kubota’s business sectors, and latterly spending two years as aftersales dealer manager for Ireland.

“I’m delighted to be able to step-up and take on the role of agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Ireland,” explains Gary. “This is a great opportunity to work much more closely with my dealers, to support them as they grow their businesses by introducing the Kubota brand to a wider audience.”

Gary is passionate about farming and machinery, and comes from a background that introduced him to machinery at an early age. Two of his uncles ran contracting businesses, and after leaving school, much of his spare time was spent either repairing or operating equipment. It was an experience that cemented his decision to remain involved with the sector.

Speaking about Gary’s appointment as a dealer manager, Kubota’s agricultural and groundcare sales manager Tim Yates said: “Gary’s knowledge provides us with a great opportunity to continue supporting dealers as they continue to build on the growth already achieved in agricultural and groundcare markets across Ireland.”

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Howardson Group Appoints David Williamson

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Howardson Group Appoints David Williamson: Howardson Group Ltd, home of world-class groundscare for Dennis, SISIS, Syn-Pro, Lloyds and Hunter Grinders, has proudly announced the appointment of David Williamson as its new Commercial Director.

Howardson Group has doubled in size since 2019 due to it’s significant investment in new product development, site and most importantly team. 2023 marked a huge year for the business with growth levels of just shy of 30%. Unheard of in the manufacturing sector.

Howardson Group Appoints David Williamson

Howardson Group Appoints David Williamson

David will oversee and support both the UK and International Sales teams, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards continued long-term growth. With a core focus on delivering unparalleled customer experience, David is set to develop and execute the Howardson Group’s commercial strategy, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of innovation and reliability in the groundscare market.

Speaking about his new role, David expressed his excitement, stating, “The commitment to a quality product manufactured in the UK, coupled with best-in-class customer service, truly resonated with me.The Howardson Group is a solid team, with everyone pulling in the same direction towards the success of the business.”

“Customer service features in everything that I do,” he affirmed. “It sits at the very top of every strategy we develop at the Howardson Group. I’m very much looking forward to continuing the upward trajectory of the organisation and supporting the business as it evolves into the next generation.”

Megan Oliver, future Managing Director of Howardson Group, welcomed David’s appointment, remarking “We are thrilled to welcome David Williamson to our team as the new Commercial Director. His extensive experience and proven track record make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. We are excited about the fresh perspectives and innovative strategies he will bring to the table. David’s appointment reinforces our commitment to delivering excellence in both product quality and customer service. We believe his leadership will further enhance the success and growth of the Howardson Group as we continue to strive for excellence in the groundscare market.”

As the Howardson Group celebrates its 86th year, it remains a family owned and run, British business and David Williamson’s appointment marks a pivotal moment in the company’s journey, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry and paving the way for continued success in the years to come.

For further information visit www.howardsongroup.com

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Kubota appoints Ian Lauder

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Kubota appoints Ian Lauder: Ian Lauder has been appointed as Kubota (UK)’s agricultural and groundcare dealer manager for Scotland and the north of England.

Having gained an apprenticeship as a technician and developed a background in electronics, Ian’s early career took him through the electronics industry before taking on the role of territory manager for a golf and turf care dealership. It was a career path that led him to join a turf machinery manufacturer.

Kubota appoints Ian Lauder

Kubota appoints Ian Lauder

“Working at dealer and manufacturer level has given me a great insight into many aspects of the machinery business,” said Ian. “So, when the chance came to join Kubota, it was an opportunity I had to grab with both hands.”

Ian adds that the Kubota business has so far provided him with many opportunities to apply his existing knowledge, and also to further develop his expertise through the agricultural sector.

“There is growing demand from the industry for Kubota tractors and equipment, and with a desire from the company to be a major player in these markets, it’s a great time to be working for such a premium manufacturer,” he said. “It is a brand that is certainly being noticed.”

Commenting on the appointment, agricultural and ground care sales manager Tim Yates said: “This is a great opportunity to continue building on the growth already achieved in both agricultural and ground care markets across Scotland and the north of England.”

“With recent expansion of our dealer network, and many more new products coming to market including a compact telehandler and battery-powered loaders, we’re in a great position to deliver growth for Kubota and our partners.”

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GMA appoints two new board members

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GMA appoints two new board members: Following the Annual General Meeting for GMA members, the GMA appointed two new members to its Board of Directors – Jim Buttar, Grounds and Technical Operations Lead at the Rugby Football Union, and Phil Fifield, Head Grounds Person at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.

The Annual General Meeting took place on 22 November, where GMA members were invited to vote on several resolutions including two nominations for new appointments to the GMA’s Board, as well as one nomination for re-appointment.

GMA appoints two new board members

GMA appoints two new board members

The first Board position up for nomination was for Sector Director for Professional Sport, currently held by David Roberts of Training Unlimited, previously Senior Manager of Grounds at Liverpool Football Club. With David having reached the end of his 9-year tenure in the role, his position was open for new nominations where Jim Buttar was voted-in to fill the vacant position.

Jim has over 26 years’ extensive experience of hands-on management in the sports turf industry, which began as an apprentice at a private school in Cambridgeshire.

Through his journey in elite football, combining his passionate approach, leading by example and with his management ability, Jim has successfully delivered surfaces for several leagues and competitions across the world. Including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA European Championship qualifiers and World Cup qualifiers, and recently the African Nations Cup.

His latest role is leading the grounds team at the RFU managing the Twickenham stadium pitch, producing high quality surfaces for international and domestic competitions. Alongside this he has the responsibility of advising on strategy for the Rugby Grounds Connected programme for volunteer grounds people.

The GMA’s Board also approved the addition of another Independent Director, Phil Fifield. Phil has worked in the grounds management sector since his first day as an apprentice at Portsmouth FC in 2005 to his present role as Head Groundsperson at Brighton and Hove Albion FC.

Throughout his time in the industry, Phil has worked in all four professional leagues as a Head Groundsman and has also worked in consultancy and advisory roles. His time in the industry has seen him visit 30 countries across 5 continents as a turf-care professional.

His passion and drive to push himself and grow in his professional role has taken Phil to positions where he has been able to provide services, offer staff training, support tournament delivery and pitch development programs for a number of iconic sporting institutions, including FIFA, UEFA, CAF and AFC for men’s, women’s and youth events.

With a belief that the key fundamentals for growth and development in the sports turf sector are education, sustainability and staff welfare, Phil hopes to lend his expertise and experience to the GMA in helping build on these three foundational pillars, helping to develop the grounds care industry, and those within it, for a better future.

Along with Jim and Phil’s additions to the Board, existing Board member, Kimyo Rickett was successfully re-elected in her position as Sector Director for Local Authorities.

Commenting on the changes to the Board, GMA CEO, Geoff Webb says:

“Our Board is essential in steering the direction of the GMA and ensuring activity aligns to our strategy, so it is vital that we have experienced and knowledgeable Directors on the Board.

“Jim and Phil fit that description perfectly – both will bring insights and perspectives to the Board that will ensure the GMA delivers what it is that our members, and the wider industry, want from us. I’m also delighted that Kimyo will be staying on as Sector Director for Local Authorities. Her experience gained from over 30 years spent working for various Local Authorities and sporting bodies will ensure that this important sector within the wider grounds management community remains central to future GMA activity.

“Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to David Roberts who leaves the Board having come to the end of this 9-year tenure as a Board member. David has supported the GMA in making significant progress during this time and we are all extremely grateful for his contribution.”

You can find out more about the GMA Board, and its members, at: https://www.thegma.org.uk/who-we-are/whos-who/meet-board

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