Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders merchants trade association, the Builders Merchants Federation has confirmed the final speaker line up for its Industry Forum debate at this year’s All-Industry Conference.
Neil Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer of Jewson, left, and Mark Vandecruys, Chairman of Belgium-based Fedrus International, will join David Young of Bradfords Building Supplies and Tony France of Ibstock Brick on the podium.
Bringing a European dimension to the debate, Mark Vandecruys is the co-owner and Chairman of Fedrus International, an independent Belgian distributor specialising in roofing and façade materials. Over the last ten years, Vandecruys has overseen the growth of the group from a small entity to a multinational business using a buy-and-build strategy. The company now comprises five operational units with total revenues of €650m and over 1550 employees. He also serves on the board of a number of companies, including BOSS paints.
Neil Lawrence is both Chief Operating Officer for Jewson and Managing Director for Local Merchant Group, the latter a division of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK & Ireland comprising the brands Gibbs & Dandy, Chadwicks, JP Corry, Normans, DHS, Benchmark Building Supplies, Matthew Charlton and Roger W Jones. Lawrence is also the merchant advisor to the BMF board.
John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “The Industry Forum is one of the most engaging sessions at the BMF’s biennial Conference, setting the tone for our Saturday programme. With Neil and Mark completing our panel of speakers I can guarantee delegates will be presented with a broad range of perspectives on building materials supply in a post-Brexit environment before the debate is opened to the floor.”
The sold-out BMF All Industry Conference, sponsored by the Crystal Clear Group, takes place in Dubrovnik from 13-16 June 2019.
