Thompson’s boss goes it alone after MBO

Anne Ganley, managing director of Sunderland-based Thompson Building Centres is now the sole owner of the multi-million pound business, after a management buyout of other family members.
Ganley has been the md for more than 30 years, running the business alongside her brother Albert. Brent Ganley, Anne’s son, has worked in the business for 15 years and will continue as operations director. Her daughter Gemma will run the HR department and Albert will concentrate on running the waste management side of the business.

“My brother and I have worked together for 25 years but came to a crossroads where the vision I had and the vision he had for the business were different,” said Ganley, “so it was appropriate to go in different directions”.

The first quarter of 2008 has already seen expansion for Thompsons with the acquisition of Brick Technical Services in Birtley near Gateshead. The business is currently being transformed into a new mixed merchants to include a branch of the company’s plumbers’ merchants arm, Taps. This brings the number of Taps branches up to five.

“Our network of branches is continuing to grow and our focus on customer service is at the core of our success,” Ganley explained, who pointed to further expansion this year. “The TAPS brand is proving particularly strong and we are planning to open two more branches this year.”