MDF profile manufacturer and distributor, The W.Howard Group has appointed top sales talent to its expanding UK and Irish team.

Andy Minas joins the team as national account manager (south), joining the business from Jet Cox and formerly of Catnic where he has 12 years experience looking after builders’ merchants, distributors, national housebuilders, regional builders, construction companies and architects.

On the back of the Group's acquisition of Balcas Kildare including its KOTA brand at the end of 2016, Damian Woods also joins the team in a business development manager role. With 18 years' experience in the UK and Irish construction markets, Mr Woods’ role within the Group is to grow its presence in the Irish market and drive KOTA sales in both the UK and Ireland.

Speaking about his new role, in which he will develop the W.Howard range of MDF products with existing national and independent merchants, new merchants and buying groups, Mr Minas said: "During the course of my career, I have built successful professional relationships to increase market share, identify sales opportunities and secure new accounts. I am delighted to have joined the W.Howard Group, as it has a great reputation in the marketplace and I am looking forward to using my knowledge and experience to benefit the business."

Mr Woods added: "With the launch of The W.Howard Group's first standard stock range offering into the Irish market, I will be working with head office buyers, promoting our service levels and ensuring that it is easy for branches to purchase product from the Group.

“There is enormous potential in the market to grow KOTA sales both in the UK and Ireland, both in terms of product benefits and W.Howard Group’s capacity to supply. With my extensive knowledge and experience of the KOTA product and market, I will drive sales to support and achieve the vision of the Group.”

The W.Howard Group managing director, Graham Williams, concluded: "These appointments really demonstrate the Group's commitment to growth and the development of our offering across the UK, Ireland and continental Europe. We are working together with our merchant partners to support the industry, its builders, carpenters and construction companies by providing an extensive and innovative range of MDF profile products and solutions."