John Cave, executive director at Solihull-based builders’ merchants EH Smith, has been appointed chair of the Builders Merchants Federation’s (BMF) Bricks, Blocks & Landscaping Forum (BBL).
The BMF is the trade association representing UK and Irish builders’ merchants and building materials suppliers. They represent 1,020 companies with combined sales of over £51.6bn and employ nearly 198,000 people
Cave, 46, who lives near Warwick, succeeds David Young, CEO of Bradfords Building Supplies. He has more than 23 years’ experience in the building materials sector and has led EH Smith’s brick and façade strategy for seven years, including opening its first Architect Design Centre in London and preparing a second in Birmingham.
He also sits on the board of EH Smith’s subsidiary, Northcot Brick, and oversees storage and supply for the firm’s 18 million bricks across 11 branches in the Midlands and South East.
Cave said he aimed to “push innovation, champion sustainability and respond to the technical and commercial challenges” facing the sector. Future forum meetings will explore brick decarbonisation – cutting carbon emissions from manufacturing – and advances in blocks, landscaping, digital printing and design textures.
BMF CEO John Newcomb said Cave’s “hands-on experience and strategic insight” made him well placed to lead the forum, which was rated one of the most valued BMF services by members.
