BMF elects four new board members

The Builders’ Merchants Federation has elected four new members to its board, with effect from July 10 2023.

The new board members are: Rachel Fryers, managing director of Merritt and Fryers Ltd,  Neil Sabey, group managing director of Harlow Timber Group, David Haldane, CEO of the Haldane Group, and Dean Pinner, managing director at Keyline Civils Specialist.

BMF chair, Richard Hill, said: “We are delighted to welcome four excellent representatives of the BMF’s broad merchant membership to the Board.  The range of experience they offer will be extremely valuable as we look to develop the skills of those employed in the sector and build greater public awareness of our industry, and its attractiveness for talented career starters and career switchers.”

Rachel Fryers is one of the new members and she has spent almost 20 years as a landscape architect before joining the family firm. She has since overseen the expansion of the business and is an advocate for the industry to adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Fryers joins the BMF board following a two year term as a board advisor.

David Haldane also joins the board, he has spent 30 years at Haldane Fisher after completing a degree in Business and technology, with a further year of business study in the USA. He has extensive experience in every aspect of the industry including spending time as a production manager, a commercial director, managing director and was appointed Haldane Fisher Group’s CEO earlier this year. Mr Fisher has also spent five years as BMF regional chair.

Dean Pinner joins the BMF board, he has had a career in the building materials sector that spans 34 years. Pinner has worked in a single independent, regional multiple independent and national builders’ merchants. He has also launched Travis Perkins Youth board to provide a platform for 16-25 year olds to have a voice, and to build understanding of the opportunities and challenges the younger generation encounter.

Neil Sabey is the final new board member elected to the BMF board and began his career in 1998 where he quickly developed a track record in taking underperforming branches to new heights by developing the strength and effectiveness of their teams. He is passionate about developing new talent and raising the profile of the merchant industry.

The four new BMF board directors replace Frank Elkins, COO at Travis Perkins, who is stepping down after leaving Travis Perkins, and Shanker Patel, CEO at Lords Builders Merchants, Ian Haldane, chairman of Haldane Group and Tim Rowbottom, managing director at Collier and Catchpole who are all retiring after completing two three-year terms of office. However, Rowbottom will be appointed as a board advisor to continue his work in support of the Member value strategic theme.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the new Board members, but I would also like to add both mine and Richard’s personal thanks to Frank, Shanker, Ian and Tim who are stepping down and whose advice and support we have greatly valued,” commented BMF CEO, John Newcomb.