Buttle plc has announced the appointment of William Naylor as the merchant's new managing director. 

Mr Naylor has over 30 years' experience in the builders' merchants industry, including 15 years as a director of Gibbs and Dandy, where he was appointed managing director following its acquisition by St Gobain, before becoming commercial director of the enlarged G&D Group.

Mr Naylor will be working with the company's recently strengthened management team to build on the foundations laid by his predecessor, Kevin Middleton.

Mr Naylor said: "I am delighted to be joining Buttle's and to be back in the independent merchants' sector. We have some exciting plans for this business, and prospects for the building industry are better than they have been for some time."

Peter Buttle, who now continues in the role of chairman of Buttle's group, believes that Mr Naylor is a great addition to the Buttle’s team. "We have experienced strong growth over last 12 months and I am confident that we will all enjoy working with William to achieve even more in the months and years ahead."