Knauf Insulation has increased its focus on sustainability and marketing as it appoints new additions to its senior leadership team for Northern Europe.
Paul Chandler has been appointed as regional marketing director while Vanessa Rae, previously regional marketing and sustainability director, is now regional sustainability director of the business.
The changes come as Knauf Insulation completes a £45m investment programme at its manufacturing facilities in St Helens and Cwmbran, to increase capacity, enhance capability, and further reduce the embodied carbon of its products.
Paul joins Knauf Insulation from building products company Marshalls, where he was group marketing director. Prior to this, he spent five years at Knauf UK, first as head of marketing, then as director of digital and commercial Innovation. He has extensive cross-sector marketing leadership experience, both in-house and agency.
Neil Hargreaves, managing director for Knauf Insulation, Northern Europe, said: “These changes will help us deliver on strategic priorities at a pivotal time for the construction industry. Paul’s deep experience means that he is well-positioned to lead the investment we’re making into our brand and to better support our customers through this period of rapid change. His appointment will also enable Vanessa to be solely focused on delivering our ambitious sustainability strategy across the region.”
Paul said: “I’m delighted to return to the Knauf Group at this vital moment of change in the construction industry; with new regulations transforming how buildings are designed as well as routes to market and the specification process. I look forward to working with our customers across the region as we expand and enhance our product and service proposition to meet their changing needs.”
Vanessa commented: “These changes are evidence of how seriously Knauf Insulation takes sustainability. In many cases, our products already feature the lowest embodied carbon in their category on the market. My focus will be on driving best practice and innovation across the region to further reduce our carbon emissions and the broader environmental impact of our products, as we aim to deliver more sustainable insulation for sustainable buildings.”
