New MD

Roof window manufacturer Velux has appointed Pedro Poole Derqui to head up its UK-wide operations.

The 52-year-old has been appointed managing director and will lead a team of 250 staff across the UK and Ireland from its UK head office in Glenrothes, Fife.

Pedro will be responsible for growing the UK business, which makes a range of roof windows that it sells to the construction sector and homeowners.

Pedro has more than 12 years’ experience of working in the roof window industry having joined Velux in Spain where he was managing director.

Before joining Velux, Pedro spent most of his career in high profile marketing and sales positions working for companies including Unilever, where he was brand manager for cleaning products Comfort, CIF and Domestos, and high end hair and make-up brands L’Oréal, Maybelline and Garnier.

His extensive career has seen him work in a number of different countries including Spain, Columbia and Chile.

Keith Riddle, former managing director of Velux GBI who has now taken up his new position of vice president of sales and operational marketing of Velux, said: “Pedro joins the UK business at an exciting time for the industry. His track record of leadership in marketing and sales roles will be a great asset to the company and I’m very much looking forward to working with Pedro and tapping into his skill set that will help us achieve great things.”