UK water quality engineering firm Panton McLeod has appointed a new full time chairman.
The company, which cleans, inspects and repairs water storage facilities for some of the UK’s biggest utility firms, has appointed Jim W Panton as company chairman and Chief Executive as part of a wider management re-structure designed to grow the business throughout the country.
The former Erskine and Poppy Scotland chief will bring a wealth of business experience to the Borders-based firm and his role will include overseeing and shaping the company’s business strategy over the coming years, expanding the range of services it provides in theUKwater industry and growing its influence throughout the country.
As part of the restructure at Panton McLeod, Iain Weir becomes Chief Operating Officer and will use his decade of experience with the company to focus on delivering high standards of service to its clients. Paul Henderson will focus on expanding and developing the business as Panton McLeod’s new Sales & Marketing director, while Sheelagh Briggs continues her role as Finance & HR director.
Chief Operating Officer Iain Weir said: “Having Jim taking the reins as full time chairman is a major coup for Panton McLeod. He brings a great deal of business experience and acumen that will be invaluable in our growth strategy over the next few years.
Experience
“As head of Poppy Scotland, Jim was responsible for leading the re-branding and repositioning of the organisation so that it achieved a turnover of more than £4 million per year. During his tenure with veterans charity Erskines, he oversaw 800 staff across five locations and helped the organisation achieve an overall turnover of £24 million.
“That experience will be vital in helping Panton McLeod achieve the ambitious business targets that we have set. With Jim at the helm, we are confident of achieving our vision of becoming the UK’s leading name for cleaning, inspecting and repairing water structures throughout the UK and beyond.”
Jim had previously been positioned as Panton McLeod’s interim non-executive chairman following the retirement of his father, company founder and senior water industry figure Jim R Panton, at the start of 2011.
Jim Snr, who had serviced the water industries inSouth Africaand theUKfor more than 40 years before his retirement, set up the firm in the Scottish Borders in 1994. Over the following decade and a half, he oversaw the company’s growth into the UK’s leading provider of traditional drain-down cleaning projects, robotic cleaning and inspection work and high quality repairs for structures that are used to store drinking water.
Speaking after being appointed as chairman, Jim W Panton said: “I’m very proud to be taking over the position that my father held for so long. He built Panton McLeod up from scratch and, under his tenure as chairman, the company has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the most prominent names in the water industry.
“By diversifying the services we offer to major water companies, and by expanding our divisions, we now aim to increase our turnover and grow our influence throughout the country.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with Iain Weir as COO and the rest of the board of directors to drive forward our vision and ensure Panton McLeod continues to provide excellent services, expertise and quality for major utility and water companies.”
More information about Panton McLeod and its services can be found at the website www.pantonmcleod.co.uk.
