THE man who turned a photography shop in York into a national audio visual specialist is retiring after almost 50 years as a management buy-out sees the start of a new chapter at the firm.
The chairman and managing director of Saville Audio Visual, John Sills has announced he is to retire this month after a career spanning 48 years with the company.
As he steps down from the Nether-Poppleton based firm, its remaining directors and key members of the senior management team have completed an MBO, funded in association with the Yorkshire Bank.
Saville’s sales and marketing director Andy Dyson said: “John has been instrumental in building Saville into a major player in the AV/IT installation and live events sectors and the new management team are determined to build on his legacy”.
Colin Nixey, finance director, added: “John is leaving the company in an excellent position following a third successive record year in 2016 and we are planning to continue this growth and expansion over the company’s next chapter.”
Mr Sills joined the family-owned business in 1968, setting up an AV department at the Saville photographic shop in York – at that time the company’s only premises.
He then built a nationwide sales team and established a network of regional centres across the UK.
Under his leadership the company become a major player in the AV sales, systems integration and rental markets, winning more than thirty national awards. His notable initiatives include pioneering AV control systems, in-house furniture manufacturing plus the first website by an AV reseller.
As managing director Mr Sills masterminded a management buy-out from the Saville family in 1996. He continued to grow the business, winning many corporate, education and government contracts and taking the company’s turnover past £41 million last year.
Mr Sills said: “I am confident that I’m leaving the company in excellent hands and would like to take the opportunity to thank the entire Saville team for their loyalty and commitment over many years, as well as the suppliers and manufacturers who have supported the company and continue to do so.”
York law firm Lupton Fawcett advised on the legal aspects of the ownership change.
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