IDEAL STANDARD ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF UK AND IRELAND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Ideal Standard has announced that Dave Barber has decided to retire from his position as UK and Ireland Managing Director in May, following 20 years with the company.
Dave has held a number of Finance Leadership roles with the leading manufacturer of bathroom and washroom solutions, including UK & Ireland Finance Director, and has been instrumental in the strategic consolidation of Ideal Standard’s brands. This included the launch of the company’s design-led range, Atelier Collections, created in collaboration with renowned Italian studio Palomba Serafini Associati (PS+A) and its founder Roberto Palomba. He also led the introduction, across the UK and Ireland, of Singular™ – Ideal Standard’s new approach to specification. Singular™ brings together the company’s product knowledge, sector expertise and design services to enable customers to choose from thousands of products to create the right solution for their space.
Dave will be succeeded by Lisa Whitfield, who joins Ideal Standard from Interface, the worldwide commercial flooring company and global leader in sustainability. In her time at Interface, Lisa has driven a number of key strategic initiatives to improve customer journey and experience, including development of the team. Prior to her role at Interface Lisa spent 27 years at Newell Brands holding roles of increasing responsibility, including managing the UK writing business through a period of significant growth. Lisa will lead Ideal Standard’s customer-focused strategy, ensuring the offer and portfolio is at the forefront of innovative, aspirational bathroom design.
The announcement follows the launch of Ideal Standard’s sustainability report entitled ‘Together for a better future’, revealing its commitment to a more sustainable world. Lisa is stepping into the role at a pivotal time, as the company sets out clear targets and its ESG commitments, and she will continue to push the company to challenge itself and implement changes that make a real difference.
Jan Peter Tewes, Chief Executive Officer at Ideal Standard International, said: “We are hugely grateful to Dave for his commitment to Ideal Standard for the past 20 years. His strong leadership and knowledge of our business have been invaluable in supporting our ongoing growth and ensuring we are in the strongest position for the future. Lisa brings a wealth of expertise to the role and we are looking forward to seeing the UK and Irish markets continue to thrive and succeed under her direction.”
On her appointment, Lisa said: “This is a really exciting time to be joining Ideal Standard, with the company having made a number of strategic decisions to bolster its portfolio, bringing together its innovative technology and design credentials to create high performance solutions that are constantly challenging the market. I am looking forward to working closely with the team to continue to develop and grow the business, putting a real emphasis on the service and innovation we offer to ensure we retain our market-leading position. It’s clear to see how much has already been achieved and that gives us a great foundation to continue on this journey.”