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NEWS & VIEWS
PEOPLE
Position filled Appointments and promotions across the industry
WILSONART
DURAVIT
MEREWAY
OPTIDEK
Manufacturer and distributor of HPL surfaces Wilsonart UK has appointed Elliott Fairlie as product manager for kitchens across the UK and EMEA. Fairlie joins Wilsonart from wood specialist Egger Group, where he worked for 11 years most recently as senior décor manager for the UK and Ireland. With a wealth of knowledge of surfaces and a background in product marketing, he will be responsible for developing new product designs.
Annette Becker has joined bathroom manufacturer Duravit as vice president global marketing, with responsibility for the newly merged division of marketing and commercial product management. On completing her PhD in Business Studies, Becker worked in product management at Bosch, heading up brand management and the user experience segment. Most recently she was head of global marketing at the Fischer Group.
British kitchen manufacturer Mereway has appointed Gavin Wheelan as area sales manager for the North of England. He brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to his role, having worked for the last eight years in the stone sector for Cosentino and Laminam. Prior to that, Gavin Wheelan worked in sales and management roles for home improvement retailers Wickes, B&Q and kitchen franchise Kutchenhaus.
Premium wall coverings specialist Optidek has appointed Liz Le Fevre as regional sales manager for London. She joins the business with 12 years’ experience in the KBB industry, and was most recently responsible for large project tenders across residential and commercial sectors at Brandt Design. Liz Le Fevre’s role is to inform and advise kitchen and bathroom studios about how to incorporate wall covering solutions in their schemes.
UFORM
showroom planning requirements. His experience includes CAD planning roles across consumer, trade, and contract kitchen designs, through to retailer showrooms. Costen has been tasked with building brand awareness of Kitchen Stori and establishing a new retailer programme. Her previous roles include senior project manager for a design agency and marketing for an electrical retailer.
RANGEMASTER
HETTICH UK
British appliance and sink manufacturer Rangemaster has appointed Jim Watson as regional sales manager for North of the UK and Ireland. Watson joins Rangemaster with over 40 years’ experience in the kitchen industry, including regional roles at Smeg and Nobia Group, as well as director level positions at Contracts Now as well as Avanti Kitchens in Scotland.
Hettich UK has recently appointed Paul Shiels to the role of area sales manager for the North West region. Formerly employed by Keller Kitchens, he brings a wealth of industry experience to his new role with the furniture fittings manufacturer. According to his LinkedIn profile, Shiels is an experienced company director with a demonstrable history in the furniture industry.
Kitchen door and component supplier Uform has announced the appointment of two people in its category and marketing teams. Jack Pullan has joined the category team as Uform’s kitchen showroom designer, while Erin Costen is brand manager for Uform’s consumer brand, Kitchen Stori. Pullan will deliver a new in-house Showroom Design Service, supporting customers in their
12 SEPTEMBER K&BNEWS www.kandbnews.co.uk