Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Angela Rushforth, group managing director of Ridgeons Group Ltd has been signed up by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) to speak at its Members Day in September at the Carden Park Golf Resort & Spa near Chester.
She was one of the first women to head a builders merchant, and remains the only woman at the helm of a regional merchant group.
Ridgeons, a family owned mixed portfolio business, has 26 merchant branches and two Anglia Tool Centre outlets in the East of England, a turnover in excess of £130m and some 800 employees.
Before joining Ridgeons in 2008, Angela was UK marketing director at Wolseley Group, involved with developing the UK strategy, delivering brand propositions for all business units and for introducing space planning, range management and merchandising disciplines.
Previously she spent seven years with Screwfix Direct as marketing director, developing the business from a small mail order company, through the sale process to Kingfisher, to become a household brand.
BMF MD, John Newcomb, said: “We are delighted that we have secured Angela for Members Day. Her career has encompassed three very different, but highly successful businesses. Her marketing and business expertise together with a strong commitment to developing employees and supporting customers have clearly played an instrumental part in their success. She is sure to have an interesting take on our conference theme.”
BMF Members’ Day takes place on 16th & 17th September at Carden Park Golf Resort & Spa near Chester. The event combines informal networking opportunities, a black-tie Awards Dinner, informative business sessions with thought-provoking guest speakers and the BMF’s AGM. It is supported by headline sponsor, ACO Academy and golf tournament sponsor, Monument Tools.
The theme for this year’s BMF Members Day is People, Purpose & Passion.
