Donaldson Group

The UK’s leading independent timber and construction supplier, Donaldson Group, has appointed Alyson Donaldson as Group Chief Financial Officer.

Alyson joins the Group from leading global veterinary care provider, IVC Evidensia, where she was UK & ROI Chief Financial Officer. Here she was responsible for the UK-wide finance operations for the billion-pound business, with a focus on transformation and performance improvement.

Alyson was promoted to the post at IVC Evidensia after working as Chief Financial Officer for its major subsidiary, Vets Now. Prior to this she spent eight years in senior finance and strategy roles at Diageo, latterly as Finance Director, International Supply, where she was responsible for managing a large global finance community and performance of a multi-billion pound cost base.

A chartered accountant, Alyson started her career at KPMG LLP on their graduate training programme. She graduated from Stirling University with a first-class degree in accounting and economics, and in 2020 she completed a post-graduate course in Leadership, Strategy and Innovation with Napier University.

Alyson is the first female Donaldson family member to join the Group in an executive role, in its 163-year history. She succeeds Arlene Cairns who took on the role of CFO in 2020.

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Donaldson, CEO of Donaldson Group, said: “The board and I are thrilled to have Alyson joining us as Group CFO. She has an impressive track record of demonstrative success, leading finance functions and driving strategic transformational change and improvements in industry-leading organisations. She will be a fantastic addition to our senior leadership team and we’re all very much looking forward to working with her. This is also a very proud milestone for us as a family business, as we welcome another Donaldson into the Group.”

Alyson adds: “As a family business, this is so much more than a career move for me; it’s something I feel incredibly passionate about. I’m looking forward to working with the Group Executive and finance team, supporting the business as it continues to pioneer in its market, and I’m excited to be contributing to the success of the business for now and for generations to come.”

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 163-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 16 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 49 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.

Leading timber expert, Donaldson Group, has appointed Graeme Bell as Operations Director of the Interiors division, in addition to his existing position as Director of Smith & Frater.

In his new role, Graeme will be responsible for strategy development for the businesses within the Interiors division, including Kitchens International, Smith & Frater, Stonecare, Optima Kitchens, and MGM Kitchens. Working with Gerry Watson, CEO of Interiors, and the divisional board, Graeme will play a key role in meeting ambitious growth goals, while retaining quality and service.

Graeme brings 37 years of experience in the furniture manufacturing industry, having worked in kitchen manufacturing, across procurement as well as operations and commercial management, for 25 years. He joined Smith & Frater in 2010 as Operations Manager and was later promoted to Commercial Manager, before taking on his current roles as Operations Director of the Interiors division and Director of Smith & Frater. As a leading supplier to the independent retailer and construction industries, Smith & Frater manufactures bespoke kitchens from its production facility in central Scotland.

Commenting on the appointment, Andrew Donaldson, CEO of Donaldson Group, said: “As the Donaldson Group continues to invest in its interiors offering, we are delighted to bring Graeme on board to drive growth within the division. With a wealth of experience at Smith & Frater, Graeme has a thorough understanding of the opportunities and challenges for the Interiors brands in order to take them to the next level.”

Graeme added: “I am excited to take on this new role as Operations Director within the Interiors division. This is a fantastic opportunity as the Donaldson Group expands its interiors offering, on the back of the newly launched MGM Kitchens brand. I look forward to continuing to work with my team as well as new colleagues to grow the businesses within the division while delivering the high-quality products and services that our customers rely on.”

Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the 162-year-old Donaldson Group comprises a total of 17 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK from 46 locations employing over 1,700 people. The businesses that make up the Group trade and operate independently, sharing best practice, innovation, purchasing synergies, and market analysis.