New chief executive joins Portakabin (From York Press)

New chief executive joins Portakabin

4:25pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Business news By Julie Hayes, Business editor

PORTAKABIN Group, the York-based modular building manufacturer, has appointed Derek Carter as its new chief executive.

His appointment follows the retirement of Stephen Price after 17 years as managing director and then executive chairman of the Portakabin Group.

Mr Carter, a board director of the Shepherd Group, has taken overall responsibility for all the group's brands which include Portakabin, Yorkon, Portaloo, Konstructa and Foremans, and its operations in the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium and Holland.

He has spent the past 27 years in the leisure marine sector where he was chief executive of two major British manufacturers and exporters.

Mr Carter said: “Coming from a successful background heading up two of the world’s leading leisure marine manufacturers, I am looking forward to taking the Portakabin business to the next stage in its evolution.

“Portakabin has a fantastic heritage and a long-standing pivotal role in both the UK construction industry and in British manufacturing. It continues to be the pioneer in off-site construction and to break new ground with the speed, scale, complexity, efficiency and sustainability of its building solutions.

“I have joined an exciting, forward-thinking company which delivers buildings of the highest quality, consistently on time and to budget, in some of the most challenging situations – all of which remain fundamental to this great British brand. We will continue to build on its strength and reputation while growing existing markets and expanding into new markets in Europe and ultimately internationally.”

Mr Price remains as a non-executive director of the Shepherd Group.