Danwood opens up on restructure

Print VAR unveils full exec line-up, promises redundancies will be made "quickly and fairly", and puts "superior ethics" at heart of new vision

Danwood has spoken out to shed light on its ongoing staff consultation process, its sales structure rejig and the identity and responsibilities of its newly recruited quintet of leaders.

ChannelWeb revealed on Monday that a consultation programme has been launched for all sales and support staff, with sources reporting that about one in four from a total of 300-plus may face redundancy.

In a statement issued to us today, Danwood confirms that the process was undertaken following "a review of the divisional-based sales structure [being] concluded by the sales directors". The process will conclude early next month.

"It is likely that, regrettably, there will be some redundancies," adds the statement. "Where these occur, we will make them quickly and fairly, with the minimum impact on employees and customers alike."

But Danwood has stressed that it is also recruiting, with additions being made to its 450-strong fleet of local engineers "across a number of geographies". Trainee programmes are also to be launched in the Midlands and central Scotland "following their success in other parts of the UK".

Senior shake-up
ChannelWeb revealed earlier this month that founder Colin Daniels, alongside some other senior managers, was set to depart the firm as part of a top-level reshuffle. Danwood announced last year that Steve Francis (pictured, below right) would lead the company after joining as chief executive.

According to today's statement, alongside him will be fellow recent recruits Gerry Small, who will act as chief finance officer, and Mike Camm, who fills the role of financial services director. The trio all have extensive backgrounds in finance, having held a string of executive positions.

Danwood's new HR and training director Gary Saunders joined in November, while Wes Mulligan was appointed as technical services director last month.

Alongside the new hires will be a senior executive septet of longer-standing Danwood staff, with 30-year company veteran Graham Reeve serving as strategy and regional business director and Kevin Ingman, who has been with the firm 18 years, acting as commercial sales director.

The roles of corporate and public sector sales director are to be filled by Chris Hopton and Gary Day respectively, with Andy Brown taking on a role heading up marketing, procurement and supply chain. Scythia Cross, who has overseen upwards of 50 acquisitions in the past decade, is Danwood's legal and company secretary, with Jeremy Shaw filling the IT director role.

Today's statement outlines that the changes across the business are part of an intended "transformational and generational change programme". The firm has identified four key tenets for its new "customer-centric vision: the customer comes first; strong governance and superior ethics; discipline, control and reliability; and one team with openness.

"These changes are a necessary precursor as we evolve the strategy for the next generation," concludes the statement. "We will strive every day to continue to simplify our processes and systems, to be open and to communicate more and more effectively."