Travis Perkins plc Announces new Specialist Merchants Operating Structure
Northampton 9 June 2025: Travis Perkins plc, the UK’s largest distributor of building materials, has today announced a new operating structure for the Group’s specialist merchants businesses. The businesses will be led by Catherine Gibson in the newly created role of Specialist Merchants Managing Director, reporting to the Group CEO as part of the Group’s leadership team. Catherine will oversee new and dedicated leadership teams in the Group’s specialist merchant businesses, BSS, CCF, Keyline and TF Solutions to create more entrepreneurial, customer-centric businesses.
Catherine was previously Managing Director of the Group’s CCF and Keyline businesses, having initially joined the Group’s Travis Perkins General Merchant business from Aggregate Industries in 2015. Catherine started in senior operational roles, rising to become Managing Director for Travis Perkins Hire in 2018, before being appointed Managing Director for CCF in 2020, and further bolstering her experience by extending her leadership role to include both Keyline and Staircraft in 2024.
Geoff Drabble, Chair of Travis Perkins plc, said: “Catherine has extensive experience in the merchanting sector, and through her leadership and trade association engagement she has been instrumental in driving performance, industry and plant safety improvements to award-winning standards. I am delighted she has accepted this new role and confident her appointment and our new structure will make our businesses more responsive and bring us closer to our customers.
He continued: “Our specialist merchants all have strong market positions, capable people and the best locations in the industry, but specialist markets require specialist teams that are fully focused on serving them, and whilst we have cross selling opportunities, our customers will be better served with these appointments.”
Catherine added: “I am really excited about the prospect of working with the specialist merchant businesses to help strengthen their performance. These businesses already enjoy strong relationships with customers and suppliers, reflecting the expertise and passion of our colleagues. Whilst there will be opportunities to share resources, these businesses need to be run separately to take into account their different requirements. We look to create flexible, responsive and entrepreneurial local businesses that can optimise services for all our customers.”
“Following a rigorous search and interview process, I am pleased that we have appointed four really strong Managing Directors. I am particularly delighted that we are appointing three of them from our own talent pipeline, and I very much look forward to working with all of them.”
Catherine will be supported by the following new Managing Director appointments:
Chris Knight has been promoted from CCF Regional Director to become Managing Director, CCF. Having joined the business as a management trainee in 2007, he has held numerous senior operational and management roles before rising to CCF Regional Director in 2021. Chris took up his new position on 1 June 2025.
Josie Crowe, Travis Perkins General Merchant Regional Managing Director, and Managing Director of Benchmarx, is promoted to Managing Director, BSS. Josie joined the Group in 2004 and has held numerous senior operational and leadership roles in BSS and Travis Perkins since. She starts her new position on 1 July 2025.
Huw Jenkins is appointed Managing Director, Keyline, on 1 September 2025. Huw joins us from CEVA Logistics, where he was Managing Director, Contract Logistics UK&I & Nordics. He also has extensive experience from senior roles at DHL and Wincanton in running the Ministry of Defence’s supply chain.
James Boswell was promoted from BSS Regional Director to Managing Director, TF Solutions, in January 2025 following nearly a decade with the Group. During that time he has held a number of senior operational and management roles in TF Solutions, Benchmarx and BSS.
ENDS
Further information:
Corporate Communications
Travis Perkins plc
[email protected]
Tel: 01604 592307
Illustrations:
A high resolution image of Catherine Gibson is available via this link
A high resolution image of Chris Knight is available via this link
A high resolution image of Josie Crowe is available via this link
A high resolution image of Huw Jenkins is available via this link
A high resolution image of James Boswell is available via this link
High resolution logos of our businesses are available via this link
About Travis Perkins
Travis Perkins plc is the UK’s largest distributor of building materials to trade customers. The Group has a strong heritage and employs circa 17,000 colleagues across a 1400-strong branch network. The Group has five leading businesses, including the Travis Perkins builders merchant, Toolstation and a number of specialists in the civils market (Keyline), heating and ventilation (BSS) and drylining and insulation (CCF), and many more. The breadth, reach and scale of the business means it’s in a unique position to supply the entire UK construction industry and provide customers with the materials and tools they need for their building projects, when and where they need it. For more information, see www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk
