UK Customer Experience Awards finalists Mears Group has appointed a new Chairman following the retirement of Bob Holt.
The Gloucester firm, which employs over 10,000 people provides support services to the UK’s social housing and care sectors, has named Kieran Murphy as the new Chairman and non-executive director.
Mr Murphy will take on the new role in January, and will continue the work of Mr Holt, who led the firm to success during his 23 year tenure.
The new Chairman – whose colleague Gary Jackson was a judge at the 2018 UK Customer Experience Awards at Wembley Stadium – has spent much of his career working in finance. He joined the Civil Service after university, spending eight years at HM Treasury. His subsequent executive career was in the City, firstly at merchant bank Kleinwort Benson, and more recently, at Gleacher Shacklock, a boutique corporate finance advisory firm.
Mr Murphy is also on the board of Aliaxis SA, is Chair at the Ordnance Survey, and is on the boards of the University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust and the University of London.
Chief Executive of Mears, David Miles, said: “I am pleased to welcome Kieran Murphy to the board of Mears. He brings a broad range of valuable experience into the boardroom as we continue to drive the business forward. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead.
“At the same time, we must all recognise the great contribution that Bob Holt has brought to Mears over the past 23 years. His commitment and guidance still underpins much of the business here today. Bob leaves with our thanks and we wish him every success in the future.”
Mr Murphy said: “I am delighted to be joining the board of Mears. The company plays an important role in the UK housing market and I look forward to working with the board and management team to continue to build on the leading sector position it has created.”