Lignacite appoint new MD

Family-owned masonry products firm promotes Allan Eastwood to position of managing director

MASONRY product manufacturers Lignacite have appointed Allan Eastwood as their new managing director, with immediate effect.

Mr Eastwood joined Lignacite in 1996 after leaving the army where he was a staff sergeant and gunnery instructor. He started work with the company as a fork-lift truck driver but was quickly promoted to yard foreman and then works manager at one of Lignacite’s manufacturing plants after only six months. He then progressed to become operations director in 2004 before this latest promotion.

In his new role Mr Eastwood will oversee the company’s team of 65 staff across its two factories in Brandon, Suffolk, and Nazeing in Essex.

After a challenging period during the economic downturn, Lignacite have experienced a significant upswing in the company fortunes in the past year, and Mr Eastwood is positive he can build on this development and increase turnover by 20% or more in the next year while maintaining existing cost levels.

‘I am delighted with this promotion and have a great team here at Lignacite. My army background comes in handy when it comes to motivating the team, and despite my newfound responsibilities I will still be very hands-on and practical when required,’ he said.

Mr Eastwood will report to the Lignacite board and the company’s owner, executive chairman and previous managing director, Giles de Lotbiniere.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Lotbiniere said: ‘When Allan wrote to me from the army, little did I know that he would be such an asset to the company. He has shown enormous loyalty as well as grit and determination in seeing Lignacite through the recession, which the company now seems to be emerging from.

‘I am confident Allan will help to strengthen our position in the market and maximize the opportunities associated with the solid growth we are currently experiencing, and we very much look forward to benefiting further from his collaborative and innovative approach.’