National Buying Group (NBG) has appointed Stephen Harrison as its new Non-Executive Chair.

Harrison succeeds to the Group’s previous Non-Executive Chair, David Szymanski, following his retirement at the end of last year.

The latest addition to NBG’s management team joins with over 22 years’ experience in the building products sector, with Harrison’s most recent role seeing him serve as Chief Executive of clay and concrete products manufacturer Forterra plc between October 2015 and May 2023. He oversaw the divestment process from former owner Heidelberg Materials (where he was Managing Director - Bilding Products since Auguat 2012) into private equity ownership.

Prior to this role, Harrison spent a decade in a variety of senior management positions within the building materials industry, supplying the infrastructure, commercial and residential construction markets. He has also served as a Director of construction sector trade associations, such as the Construction Products Association, and the Brick Development Association, and holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.

As Non-Executive Chair, Harrison will continue to provide NBG with the same senior level governance its network of over 100 independent merchants has valued greatly over the last 12 years. As an independent voice on the NBG Executive Board, he will ensure the group’s commitment to democracy continues to promote excellence in buying and supports the interests of every one of its Partners.

On his appointment, Harrison said: “I was familiar with NBG prior to taking this position and feel I can bring some of the experiences I gathered from a listed company to a very successful LLP within the same industry. This is already a well-led organisation full of good people with great integrity so I’m looking forward to continuing to develop the success of the NBG partnership with those ideals very much still at the top of our agenda.

“The building products industry is one with which I’m extremely familiar and I’ll be aiming to bring comfort and confidence to every Partner our buying group represents.”

NBG’s Managing Director Mark Hughes added: “We’re delighted to be welcoming someone with as much senior level industry experience as Stephen to NBG. Stephen’s career to date speaks for itself and we’re excited to see the positive contributions he’ll make to the way the group is run.

“Now is also the time to say a huge thank you to David Szymanski, who played an integral role in NBG’s success over the last 12 years. David’s industry knowledge combined with his amiable personality and integrity made him the perfect Chair to lead our organisation during a very successful chapter in our history. I’ve no doubt those solid foundations will act as the perfect platform for Stephen to build on over the coming years.”