Grundon changes shape companys future

Neil Grundon has been appointed deputy chairman at Grundon Waste Management in a move which will allow him to take over as chair of the company when his father Norman Grundon retires.

The appointment, which came into effect in January 2012, will allow Neil Grundon to gain an overview of the Oxfordshire-based company, which was founded by his grandfather Stephen in 1929. He will continue to undertake his current duties as development director.

Meanwhile Richard Skehens, the companys managing director, has been promoted to chief executive. The rest of the companys board of directors have remained unchanged, with Norman Grundon retaining his role as chairman.

Discussing Neil Grundons promotion, Mr Skehens told letsrecycle.com: I think theres a certain logic in the fact that Neil will follow in the family footsteps and will eventually become chairman of the company. I believe the role at the moment gives him a good period of settling in whilst his father is still chairman. I know Neil will welcome the opportunity to have the position of deputy chairman and to be able to step into the business in seamless manner in the future.

Role

Mr Skehens said that his new role as chief executive would allow him to broaden his horizons whilst maintaining responsibility for Grundons existing operations.

Basically the purpose of my role is to be responsible for the existing operations but also allowing us to expand our portfolio of companies that we are trying to take over or get involved with in joint ventures. This gives us another viewpoint.

At present Grundon is not looking for a replacement managing director but Mr Skehens said that it may be something for the future.

Expansion

Grundon is currently looking to expand its operations, despite the current financial climate, and Mr Skehens said it was in talks with two companies about possible acquisitions and joint ventures.

We did actually manage to expand during the last recession and we are already expanding in this one with shares in Carbon8. We have aspirations to grow. Traditionally we have grown organically but where opportunities arise which comply and the business is appropriate then we may look at other options.

Grundon will continue to focus on infrastructure and technology whilst moving away, where possible, from landfill, he explained. He said: We do not need to look at landfill but instead infrastructure and technology which we have been focusing on for the last ten years.

The planned expansion will also allow Grundon to look for opportunities outside of the geographical areas that it operates in at the moment. Presently it has range of operations throughout the middle of England including Avon, Coventry, Gloucestershire, London and Oxfordshire.