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THE NOUGHTIES
As Vp went through its metamorphosis it continued strengthening its
senior management team. Some internal changes were made to
accelerate the company’s growth and allow for new appointments.
Company Chief Executive Jeremy Pilkington became Executive
Chairman upon Neil Stothard’s appointment as Group Managing Director
in 2004. Allison Bainbridge joined the Board as Group Finance Director in
2011. Previously the Group Finance Director of Kelda Group Limited
(Yorkshire Water), she has helped keep Vp on a strong and healthy
financial footing through her financial expertise and business acumen.
The plc Board is completed by the non-executive directors, Steve
Rogers and Phil White. Both have extensive experience in their
respective fields. Steve is a retired senior partner at
PricewaterhouseCoopers and Phil is currently Chairman of Kier Group
plc, Lookers plc and Unite plc. Steve and Phil make an invaluable
contribution to the success of the Group.
Other senior appointments were those of Haydn Davies,
Shayne Wright and David McNair, who have all played a pivotal role
in the continuing success of Vp’s specialist divisions.
Haydn Davies joined in 2004 as Sales and Marketing Director of
UK Forks and was subsequently promoted to Divisional Director and
transferred to Airpac Bukom in 2011 as Managing Director. Replacing
him as Managing Director at UK Forks was Shayne Wright, who joined
the Group with associated industry experience. David McNair was
promoted to Managing Director of Torrent Trackside in 2008 after
10 years of operational and sales experience in our rail division.
At the same time as steering itself through its trading
reincarnation, Vp had to battle a global financial crisis.
The widespread recession in 2007 and 2008 was described by
many economists as the worst financial crisis since the Great
Depression of the 1930s. Financial institutions were threatened with
collapse, national governments bailed out banks, and there was a
downturn in stock markets around the world. All these factors resulted
in the failure of many major businesses, but not Vp.
Throughout this financial maelstrom Vp remained in sound financial
health without need to seek additional support from its shareholders.
Dividends were maintained whilst reporting profits unmatched by any
of its competitors, albeit at lower levels than previously. In coming
through a period of operational upheaval and simultaneously riding a
global recession, Vp had yet again shown its mettle.
Allison Bainbridge
Haydn Davies
Shayne Wright
David McNair
