People: iMist; McClarrons; Corporate Trade Supplies UK; and more

International managing director, Julian Williams, has been appointed CEO of iMist, a Hull-headquartered water mist fire suppression business.

Following a £4.5m investment by private equity firm Foresight Group a year ago, the business has seen rapid growth with demand for its high-pressure water mist fire suppression systems rising post-Grenfell as local authorities, developers and property professionals have sought new active fire suppression solutions.

With 35 years’ experience across a number of senior commercial roles, Williams specialises in driving dynamic growth in all sizes of organisations from fledgling SMEs to blue chip multinationals.

As well as having a solid grounding in sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing, latterly he has focused on the digital space and the application of technology to make companies more productive and more effective in connecting with customers.

He further strengthens the iMist board following the appointment of former CEO of Kier Group, Haydn Mursell, as chair last March.

Mursell said: “With his broad management skills, passion for developing talent and impressive track record of growing businesses, Julian is exactly what we need at this exciting point in iMist’s development.

“As the company scales up, he will also help to put in place the processes and systems as well as the experienced people we require to ensure a smooth transition.”

Williams said: “As a PE-backed business with a good, solid funding base, iMist is in a fantastic position to realise its growth potential.

“Having developed its own proprietary misting system, the company’s mission is about saving people, saving property and saving water and I am proud to be part of that cause.

Tony Sims, engineering expert and founder of iMist, will continue to lead the company’s investment in R&D.

Sims added: “With our strong focus on R&D, iMist has developed an outstanding product which we believe can become the market leader in its field.

“We see Julian as someone who can help the organisation develop and lead iMist to the next level on its growth journey.”

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Malton-based independent insurance broker, McClarrons, says longstanding team member, Garry Davies, takes on the role of managing director from 1 February 2022.

Having been at the company for the past 14 years, joining as an office junior from school, Davies has worked in a number of positions.

Within his first year, he started an account handling role in Personal Lines and soon moved into McClarrons’ Commercial Team – as an account handler.

From here, he progressed to commercial account executive, building his own book of clients from scratch as well as developing his technical capability and knowledge of the wider industry.

After nearly eight years as an account executive, he took on the role of sales manager in 2015, building a sales team across the brokerage’s core sectors – Commercial, Rural, Private Clients and Care & Social Welfare.

For the last four years he has continued to gain invaluable industry experience and expertise as sales director.

Davies said: “Having been given the opportunity to work across most areas of the business as we have grown and overcome various industry challenges, I am very proud to now be taking on the role of managing director and look forward to leading the business into the next chapter.”

The company also recently welcomed a new group finance & operations director, Philippa Farthing, from The Ardonagh Group, as well as creating a new role – head of claims – which has been taken on by Alastair Morley, former senior solicitor in Hiscox’s claims team.

With these changes, former managing director, Sean McClarron, takes on the role of executive chairman.

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Corporate Trade Supplies UK (CTS UK), a Northallerton-based business supply chain specialists, has appointed Issey Gill as marketing assistant.

Gill, who lives in Crakehall, near Bedale, previously worked for Yorkshire racehorse trainers Ann Duffield and Phil Kirby.

Commenting on her new role, she said: “My main responsibility will be to support marketing manager Amy Grimston and to build on the substantial progress and expansion that CTS UK has made since moving into our new premises in Darlington Road, Northallerton last year.

“I will also be strengthening CTS UK’s social media presence and promoting our new Prints To Make You Smile range of shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and aprons, which are now available from Amazon and Etsy.

“We have such a great story to tell, with increased growth, turnover and new job opportunities, and I look forward to telling it.”

Grimston added: “Issey arrives at CTS UK at a significant time in our development, as we look to build on our success of the past year, enhance our relationship with clients old and new and raise our profile across the UK.”

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Stuart Ovington

A Barnsley specialist in industrial racking services has appointed two senior executives as it continues to invest in strategic growth across UK and international operations.

Stuart Ovington has been appointed managing director of Rack Group based on the Carlton Industrial Estate.

He brings over 20 years’ senior management and sales experience to the role, joining from a ship safety company, and will be responsible for leading Rack Group as the business continues to develop and grow throughout the UK, Europe and USA.

Angela Pearson joins as key account manager, with extensive new business skills and sales expertise.

She will oversee customer growth and lead the company’s development as a go-to solutions provider for racking services.

The appointments come as Rack Group, part of IWS Group, has continued to maintain a strong performance during the pandemic.

Angela Pearson

Ovington said: “In the coming months, we will be unveiling our new branding, as well as a new website.

“We have a great advantage of being able to offer complete solutions for companies with storage equipment, as well as manufacturing our own range of impact protection guards and barriers. This end-to-end service makes us unique and unrivalled in the industry.”

Jeroen Van Den Berge, director of IWS Group, said: “Stuart and Angela will be a tremendous asset with their insight, experience and expertise, helping to drive excellent results for the growing IWS Group and secure our position as a leading solutions supplier to warehouse, storage and logistics sectors.”