Grove Industries brings in Lord Digby Jones as chairman
GROVE Industries has appointed former trade minister Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, as chairman, three months after the sudden death of industrialist David Grove OBE, the group’s founder and chairman.
Lord Jones has advised Grove Industries’ board since 2009 and recently spoke at David Grove’s memorial service at Birmingham Cathedral.
The Stratford-based company was founded in 1991. Grove Industries and its associates manage a portfolio of 12 privately-owned businesses with total sales in excess of £300m and around 1,500 employees.
The group acquires controlling stakes in manufacturing and distribution businesses and takes a long-term view of value creation. Local management participate in equity and are given strategic support as required by the core Grove Industries team – Leszek Litwinowicz, Trevor Middleton, Richard Banham and Jonathon Grove.
Commenting on Lord Jones’s appointment, chief executive Litwinowicz said: “Digby’s appointment as chairman will immeasurably strengthen our board. His experience of business and of the political framework in which it operates means that he is well placed to assist us as we work to improve the strategy and competitiveness of our portfolio.
“This appointment is part of our stated aim to continue the work of our founder David Grove by supporting and empowering good management teams and creating value over the long term. We continue to seek new acquisitions and to strengthen our existing investments; in fact we are currently looking at a number of potential deals across a variety of our traditional sectors.”
Lord Jones said: “I am very pleased to have been asked to chair Grove Industries; it is a real honour to follow in the footsteps of such a fine businessman. My role will enable me contribute to the future of what is already a hugely successful business, while making a further personal contribution to boosting UK manufacturing business, in which I have a passionate belief.
“The group itself continues to seek new opportunities to grow the portfolio and I believe that my new role will enable me to add further to this process through advising on strategy, growing the businesses in which we are involved and opening doors to potential new deals both on national and international stages.”
Lord Jones, a former Minister for Trade and Investment, was director general of the CBI from 2000–2006. He is currently chairman of the international business advisory board at British Airways, a senior adviser at HSBC and Babcock International Group and chairman of Triumph Motorcycles. He is also a corporate ambassador for JCB and Jaguar Cars.
The late David Grove’s family remain closely involved with Grove Industries, and his two sons sit on the board of the group. Jonathon is an executive director with specific responsibility for seeking out investment opportunities and working with management teams, while Simon is a non-executive director.
