New MD, new owners, new logo: hat trick of changes for Smith’s!

Smith’s has a new MD, Gary Haynes, appointed in May 2016, by new owners, third-generation family-owned US company, The Swan Group.

Gary Haynes joins Smith’s, the Essex-based fan convector manufacturers and heating specialists, with a vision to grow and develop Smith’s as a customer-focused manufacturer and distributor of heating and associated products. He stated, “I am joining Smith’s at a time when the new owners have ambitious plans for the business. Smith’s is celebrating its 25th anniversary and we are positioning ourselves as solution providers for our customers. We will be launching new products on to the UK market that will be a departure from our core fan convector business and this will be something customers and partners will come to expect as a regular part of the Smith’s portfolio. We need to bring to market leading edge technology products that customers both need and want.”

Gary Haynes is a highly experienced senior professional with a background that includes Armstrong World Industries, Mecho Shade Systems (UK) Ltd, Thorn Lighting (part of the Zumtobel Group), T-Mobile, Visteon and Ford. His track record of growing and developing engineering and customer-focused businesses made him the ideal choice for Smith’s.

Gary’s arrival will see a number of new products launched in the coming months and has also prompted a brand refresh. A new Smith’s logo will be introduced across social media and all marketing platforms, with new URL and social media handles from July 2016. Gary commented, “We’ve evolved the new logo to bring Smith’s firmly into a new era, highlighting our membership of the Swan Group and refreshing the Smith’s type face, colours and swoosh. We’ve also refreshed the website URL to www.SmithsEP.co.uk to align it with the US Smith’s site and create clarity across the primary brand, Smith’s.”

The Swan Group has been a shareholder in Smith’s for many years and has recently acquired the major shareholding. Based in Boston, MA, USA, this is a third-generation family-run business which shares Smith’s values and ethos. Co-Ceo and Director, Thomas J Swan III stated, “We are excited to appoint Gary Haynes to the position of MD at Smith’s and see this development as part of our long-term plans for the company. Our ownership of Smith’s in Europe is a natural progression because of our long-standing relationship with the company. Our ambitions and aspirations for Smith’s as part of our third-generation, family-owned global business means we will continue to guide them by the family business values we foster across all our Group companies. We employ a team-focused approach based on four core principles: integrity, service, quality and innovation across the Group and we seek to create value and win-win relationships with all our business partners. We are looking forward to supporting Gary, his senior management team, and all at Smith’s, as they go from strength to strength.”

Smith’s is known for its market-leading Smith’s Space Saver plinth heater, the Caspian range of commercial fan convectors and the EcoPowerad, which is making great strides in the heat pumps and renewables sector. For more information contact Smith’s on 01245 324900; visit www.SmithsEP.co.uk; follow @SmithsEP_UK on Twitter, Like Smith’s Space Saver on Facebook or Smith’s EP on LinkedIn; or email via sales@SmithsEP.co.uk.