Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Tom McElkerney has been appointed brand managing director of plumbers merchant Plumbase.
He took over the role on October 1, taking over from the current chief executive, Gerald Thrower, who is retiring after 48 years in the merchanting industry.
McElkerney joined Plumbase in January 2007 as executive regional director responsible for the central and northern part of England and Scotland. He has served on the Board of Plumbase since January 2008.
Thrower has worked in the builders’ and plumbers merchants’ industry for some 48 years, 40 at managing director level. He has been CEO of Plumbase since its inception in 1994, when they joined Grafton Group, and has seen it grow from six branches in south east London to becoming one of the major players in the market place.
Thrower says: “For me the last 14 years, as part of Grafton, have been the most exciting and enjoyable period of my long career. It has given me immense pride and satisfaction to head up Plumbase and to work with so many fine people. While the industry itself is currently going through a challenging period there remain many opportunities where we can continue to grow and develop business in the future. ”
In January 2009 Plumbase joins Grafton Merchanting GB, the umbrella organisation that brings together all Grafton Group’s merchanting businesses in the UK to achieve greater synergies and efficiency for these subsidiaries. Tom will be responsible for Plumbase within this organisation reporting directly to Kevin Middleton, managing director of Grafton GB Merchanting.
