The Cornwall Group Board Strengthened

The Cornwall Group has promoted five members of its team to board level:  Steve Bunney becomes Production Director with Steven Marques as the new Sales Director at Cornwall Glass Manufacturing Ltd; and Barrie Gazzard becomes Company Director of Cornwall Glass & Glazing Ltd. For Cornwall Group, Thomas Julian becomes the new Managing Director; with Kate Bunt as the new Finance Director

Cornwall Group Chairman Mark Mitchell explained that our brace of promotions not only recognises the impact all five colleagues have had on our business, but they reflect the faith in their potential to help drive our company forward as Cornwall Group expands and adapts to the current economic climate.

“We have some extremely ambitious developments in the pipeline, and it is important that we have a board of directors that has the experience and vision to make them a success,” Mark said. “They all have decades of experience under their belts, and they have demonstrated that they can not only work extremely well under pressure, but they are great ambassadors for the Cornwall Group in general.”

New Production Director Steve Bunney joined Cornwall Glass 20 years ago, originally in a production role at the St Austell factory before working his way up to General Manager across multiples of our sites: St Austell, Plymouth and Highbridge.

“Steve is a popular manager because is able to bring a sense of synergy and harmony across the different locations,” Mark said. “As we look to expand our operations further north and east, having those skills at board level will become increasingly useful, especially if we acquire other businesses.”

New Sales Director Steven Marques joined Cornwall Glass Manufacturing in 2018 having joined from Saint-Gobain Glass. Employed originally as one of our sales representatives, Steven progressed to manager level and proved invaluable as the industry returned to face-to-face meetings following the lockdown period.

“Steven shows a real aptitude for forming, developing and nurturing relationships,” Mark said. “Coupled with his 20 years of glass experience, we decided that he would be a perfect addition to the board and is only the third Sales Director we’ve had at Cornwall Glass in 25 years, with the previous two still on the board!”

Barrie Gazzard has spent the last four years in the role of Group General Manager, supporting our extensive network in the southwest by closely working with our Branch Managers. Prior to that, Barrie was part of the team when Cornwall Glass acquired Bristol-based Colston Glazing in July 2012, and helped bring the firm on board, including moving to a new location on the other side of the city.

“I’m looking forward to taking on the extra responsibility that comes with a director’s role,” Barrie said. “I’m already developing relationships with customers –both new and old – and streamlining some of the things we do so that we have a consistent way of working across all sites. While this is important for those customers we deal with across multiple sites, it also helps us prepare for further expansion.”

Cornwall Glass & Glazing’s MD Paul Garrard said: “Barrie is very capable and a great asset to the company. He is a motivational leader, and he keeps one eye on the requirements of our customers. “He is also a great champion for training, which fits nicely with our philosophy of investing in our apprentices and promoting from within. As the company grows – either organically or via acquisitions – we need to be prepared. Barrie’s experience is key to creating those spaces in the businesses and being nimble for the future.”

New Finance Director Kate Bunt joined Cornwall Group in December 2020, originally moving from our Auditors to joining our team in 2020. She was initially as our Group Finance Manager and in recent months elevated to Group Finance Director.

“It has been a pleasure to be invited to sit on the Cornwall Group Board and I have learned so much already” Kate said, “We have a great team, and I am looking forward to further developing my skills and relationships, whilst being part of a Group that continues to grow and flourish.”

Cornwall Group Chairman, Mark Mitchell said “Kate is a popular and recent addition to our Group. She brings a very focused experience to our Group whilst complementing our family business aspirations and goals. Kate, currently, the youngest of our twelve directors, reinforces our ongoing commitment to promote from within and ensure our various Boards are both fit for purpose with a good element of future proofing at the same time.”

Tom Julian was spent the last 2 years in the role of Finance Director. Prior to that, Tom was Finance manager. From starting in 2010 as a finance manager and now as one of our Directors, it reinforces our ongoing commitment to promote from within and ensure our various Boards are both fit for purpose with a good element of future proofing at the same time.

“It has been a thrill working here since 2010 and I am excited about this this latest challenge.” Tom said “I hope to build on and continue exploring our good work, relationships and opportunities, both commercially and charitably yet keeping firmly to our roots in the glass industry and with the remainder of 2022 and beyond looking very bumpy the determination,  as part of the group’s management, is not only showing but going the way!”

Mark Mitchell said “Tom has recently stepped up from Group Finance Director to the newly established role of Group Managing Director. Tom has been with the business for well over a decade and knows both our business ethos and work ethic inside out. With a keen eye on detail and strategy Tom will bring to his new role some welcomed talents and a different perspective in matters of future growth and modest diversification. Overseeing the operational side of the Group working with a small and dedicated team in different departments will allow future opportunities to be fully explored and developed.”

For more information, please call 01726 66325 email info@cornwallglass.co.uk or log on at www.cornwallglass.co.uk