Finding a new Managing Director for Ibstock PLC’s Clay Business

The Industrial practice at Beaumont Bailey worked with the CEO and senior leadership of Ibstock PLC, to appoint a new Managing Director for the Clay products business. Ibstock, a legacy business in the UK, has helped build Britain for over 200 years and supported architects, builders, merchants and the wider construction supply chain with smart, efficient, and effective building products and solutions.

SEARCH BACKGROUND

Given the calibre and heritage of a brand such as Ibstock, it was essential that the new Managing Director represented the very best of leadership available in the market. The successful candidate did not necessarily have to possess extensive sector experience but did have to align with Ibstock’s core values and culture. The new MD would also have to possess the necessary gravitas and ambition to support in the development and execution of the business plan, leading sustainable growth in both core and developing construction markets.

The incoming candidate would need to recognise and truly believe in Ibstock’s three core strategic pillars: sustain, innovate, and grow with a clear ambition to address climate change, improve lives and manufacture materials for life.

REQUIREMENTS & PROCESS

For this search, Beaumont Bailey leveraged it’s ever-evolving industrial talent map of the UK, Europe, and North America. The Industrial team also expanded its research to cover analogous businesses similar to process intensive manufacturing organisations, to find individuals with the intellectual dexterity to lead large and complex operations for multi-million-pound organisations. We presented a list of exceptional MD’s and CEOs from the market with the appropriate diversity of thought.

Beaumont Bailey then conducted a data-led assessment of candidates, involving advanced psychometric assessment and personality mapping comparisons with existing senior leadership and board members, in order to identify the individual best suited to deliver the core objectives and complement the incumbent leadership style.

OUTCOME

The result was a profound success as Chris Murray, former Managing Director UK & Ireland for packaging company DS smith, was appointed to lead both the clay and concrete products business for Ibstock PLC.