Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
National Buying Group has appointed Stephen Harrison, formerly CEO of Forterra plc, as its new Non-Executive Chair, succeeding David Szymanski, who retired at the end of last year.
Harrison has over 22 years’ experience in the building products sector, having having led Forterra from 2012, steering it through a divestment process from former owner Heidelberg Materials into private equity ownership in 2015 and leading its IPO onto the London Stock Exchange in 2016.
Prior to this role, Harrison spent a decade in a variety of senior management positions within the building materials industry, supplying the infrastructure, commercial and residential construction markets. He has also served as a Director of construction sector trade associations such as the Construction Products Association and the Brick Development Association, and holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.
Harrison said: “I was familiar with NBG prior to taking this position and feel I can bring some of the experiences I gathered from a listed company to a very successful LLP within the same industry. This is already a well-led organisation full of good people with great integrity so I’m looking forward to continuing to develop the success of the NBG partnership with those ideals very much still at the top of our agenda.
“The building products industry is one with which I’m extremely familiar and I’ll be aiming to bring comfort and confidence to every Partner our buying group represents.”
In 2021, Harrison was a keynote speaker at NBG’s Supplier Summit, talking about sustainability and Forterra’s commitment to the sustainable agenda, something he is passionate about.
NBG’s Managing Director, Mark Hughes, added: “We’re delighted to be welcoming someone with as much senior level industry experience as Stephen to NBG. Stephen’s career to date speaks for itself and we’re excited to see the positive contributions he’ll make to the way the group is run.
“Now is also the time to say a huge thank you to David Szymanski, who played an integral role in NBG’s success over the last 12 years. David’s industry knowledge combined with his amiable personality and integrity made him the perfect Chair to lead our organisation during a very successful chapter in our history. I’ve no doubt those solid foundations will act as the perfect platform for Stephen to build on over the coming years.”
