After 26 years in post, Peter Barkwill has stepped aside as CEO of UK building materials company Wainwright.
The new CEO is Tom Longland, who joined as chief operating officer in April 2023 as part of the company’s succession plan.
Barkwill will stay involved in Wainwright as a non-executive director and advisor to the senior team.
During his tenure as CEO, Wainwright’s turnover and profitability have increased more than tenfold – with the last three years being the most profitable in Wainwright’s history.
Joining in 1985, Barkwill was initially appointed as quarry manager and quickly promoted to the role of quarry director. He was made managing director in 1997 and his title changed to chief executive following the opening of Avonmouth Asphalt in 2016.
Tom Longland joined Wainwright from Brett Aggregates, where he was managing director from 2019. Prior to that, he worked for 19 years in a variety of senior management roles for Aggregate Industries.
“Peter Barkwill is a hard act to follow,” says Wainwright chairman Philip Percival. “But in Tom we have in place somebody who has the experience, skills and personality to lead Wainwright for the next 20 years.”
Longland commented: “It’s an exciting time for Wainwright, and a great privilege to take over from someone of Peter’s stature. I look forward to leading the team as we continue to build for the future.”
Commenting on his change in role, Barkwill says: “I’ve loved my time as Wainwright’s Chief Executive and look forward to maintaining my connections as a non-executive director. With Tom at the helm, supported by an exemplary team, the company is in great hands.”
