Dave Jones to leave Veka

Glass Times editor Nathan Bushell reports on a significant retirement.

Veka UK’s Dave Jones will retire as MD after 26 years with the company.

Dave will be stepping down from the role at the end of December 2020 allowing someone else to take the helm at the PVCU systems manufacturer.

Steps are already in place to recruit a successor to ensure that there’s a seamless transition at the end of the year, the company said.

I can remember when Dave took over as Veka MD from Mark De Meza, with some people suggesting that an operations man couldn’t take on the role that was best-suited to someone who had arrived at the position via the sales route.

I don’t think that looking at the last 13 years you can say anyone could have done it better.

Almost immediately in his new role as MD, Dave took the stage with Epwin’s Jim Rawson as co-creators of the PVCAware campaign. He demonstrated that he had vision, by responding to an attack on PVC by ecological groups. He used facts, figures, and an impressive marketing presence. In fact, such a campaign would be highly relevant today.

The PVC window market has continued to face challenges over the nine years since the PVCAware campaign, and Veka has evolved to remain relevant, maintaining partnerships with leading fabricators that have helped keep the brand popular.

Is Veka the largest system company by tonnage? The acquisition of the Halo brand in 2011 certainly made a difference to its reach, and gave the company access to new markets and fabricators, prompting new research and development, and continuous investment in its site in Burnley.

One industry insider told me yesterday that “Dave Jones is probably still the most appropriately qualified head of a sysco in the UK”.

“I’ve enjoyed a fantastic and fulfilling career at Veka Burnley, first as operations manager, then operations director before spending the last 13 years as managing director,” Dave said.
“My working life spans almost 44 years to this point and I feel that now is the right time to step down as Veka UK’s managing director and hand over the leadership of the business.

“Veka Burnley is a great business and I have found it a privilege to work here and – in recent years – to lead the firm. Whoever takes over from me will find themselves at the head of a dynamic firm which has both a rich heritage and an exciting future.

“Both the global Veka Group and Veka UK have been through many changes over the years and playing a small part in the company’s ongoing success story has been a great honour. I count myself very lucky to have been part of the Veka journey and to have worked with such excellent and dedicated people. I am immensely proud of our achievements together.

“I know that whoever takes over as managing director in 2021 will steer the business on a path of continued success. And in the meantime, it’s business as usual.”

Dave is expected to take a step back into a non-executive role.