Building materials group Grafton has announced the appointment of Gavin Slark as its new chief executive. He will take up his new position in July and will join the company's board in April.
He succeeds Michael Chadwick, who has been with the company since 1985. Mr Chadwick will continue as non-executive chairman of the board.
The company said that Leo Martin, executive director and chief operations officer, has also told the board that he wants to retire at the end of the year. He had been due to retire in August on reaching 60, but has agreed to extend his contract until December to help Mr Slark get familiar with the group's operations, especially in Ireland.
Mr Martin joined Grafton when it bought Heiton Group in 2005.
Mr Slark was previously group CEO of BSS Group, a UK distributor to specialist trades including the plumbing, heating and construction sectors.
Shares in Grafton closed up 3.7% at €3.55 in Dublin.
