Lee Webb – a highly experienced engineer who will drive continuous improvement throughout Emco Wheaton’s factory Lee Webb has been appointed as production manager at Emco Wheaton’s Margate plant in Kent. “Lee is a highly experienced engineer with a wealth of experience,” said general manager Andrew Dawson-Goodey. “His knowledge of operations and production within a manufacturing environment will further strengthen Emco Wheaton’s production facility as well as growing the company’s capabilities as customers’ requirements develop. A graduate of the University of Warwick with an MSc in engineering business management and a post graduate award in manufacturing engineering systems, Lee joins Emco Wheaton from Cummins Power Generation, where his roles included, value stream transformation manager, senior manufacturing engineer/certified 6S green belt and operations manufacturing engineer. “We’re delighted to welcome a production manager of Lee’s calibre to Emco Wheaton,” added Andrew. Lee will be focusing on driving continuous improvement throughout the factory, to be able to deliver shorter cycle times and improve on time delivery.www.emcowheaton.com

Andy Smith brings 17 years experience in the fuel card business to Rix-owned Fuelmate Well-known industry professional Andy Smith has been appointed to head up the Rix-owned Fuelmate fuel card operation. “Fuel cards are my background. I started as a sales rep at 19-years old and have worked in the industry ever since. “In that time I’ve always been aware of Rix – the company has a great reputation – so I’m am really pleased to have been appointed to head up Fuelmate which has fantastic potential. During his career Andy has launched a fuel card division from a standing start, growing it to turnover £50m in nine years.  At 29 he was appointed to senior management level managing both fuel card and retail divisions. He has spent the past four years working in Ireland to grow his knowledge of the European fuel card market. “I will be looking to capitalise on, and grow, the existing brand value of the business whilst working closely with sales and account teams to ensure we’re deriving the greatest value we can from our resources for our customers. “I have my eye firmly on growth and I’m looking forward to taking the business to the next level.” “Andy has a great pedigree in the industry,” said  Rory Clarke, managing director of Rix Petroleum. “We’re very excited to have him on board and confident that Fuelmate is great hands with Andy at the helm.” Hull-based Fuelmate currently employs 15 people across sales, account management and admin roles.  The company supplies all major fuel cards including Keyfuels and UK Fuels, BP, Shell, Texaco, Esso, European card DKV and Fleetmate – a bespoke solution aimed at fleet operators and based on the specific requirements of the client. “Fuelmate can be tailored to the fleet operator’s needs and it’s is also scaleable,” added Andy. “It can be used by companies operating fleets of just three or four vehicles up to those with hundreds of vehicles.”www.fuelmate.co.uk

Jan Ward – delighted to be joining Millers Oils Millers Oils has appointed Jan Ward CBE as the new chair of the board of directors. Jan takes up the role of non-executive chair with immediate effect and has over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas, petrochemical and power industries. With a mechanical engineering background, she is founder and CEO of Corrotherm International Ltd and has been an enthusiastic promoter of innovation and women in engineering since the outset of her career. “I am delighted to be joining Millers Oils to build on the opportunity that their portfolio of cutting edge oils products offer in the automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial sector,” said Jan. In 2009, Jan was named the UK’s most inspirational female entrepreneur, she received a CBE in the 2014 New Years Honours in recognition of her success in guiding and promoting innovative British businesses. Jan takes over from Andrew Miller, who makes the move to non-executive director. “Millers Oils has always been an innovative company and I look forward to working with Jan to maintain the impetus we have made in recent years,” said Andrew.www.millersoils.co.uk

Pete George will retire at the end of September 2015 Having started his career with Conoco in the routing office at Immingham 45 years ago, Pete George, now managing director of UK & Ireland marketing at Phillips 66, is to retire. Pete’s career began in 1970 when he began taking orders from customers and allocating work to what were then the company’s in-house drivers. In the course of his career with Conoco, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, Pete has had 14 different roles in several locations. In addition to Immingham he has also worked in London, Slough, Manchester, an 18 month training stint that included Kingsbury, Cliffe (Kent), Tyneside and London, back to Immingham, Harrogate, Warwick, Brussels and then Warwick again! Speaking about the variety across his 14 roles Pete said it had been a joy getting to know the company’s customers. “Our customers have diverse backgrounds and businesses and it has been a joy getting to know them and building relationships over the years.” Asked what he hoped would be his legacy, he added:  “An organisation that has a great attitude towards getting things done efficiently by helping and supporting each other. “No egos, no politics – that’s what our customers demand and they are the reason we are here.” Mary Wolf will be taking on the role of managing director, UK & Ireland Marketing with effect from 2nd October 2015.www.phillips66.co.uk

Colin Levy is looking forward to “expanding the company‑owned retail forecourt position and to becoming a more prominent player in the forecourt industry” Last month Colin Levy joined Certas Energy’s retail division as company-owned operations manager. Based at the company’s Scottish head office in Larbert, Falkirk,  Colin brings almost 20 years’ experience in the forecourt retail arena, primarily with BP and partner companies. Colin’s career saw him progress from store management to area management, covering stores in Scotland, North West and North East of England. In his new position, Colin is responsible for maintaining the safety and operational performance at the 21 Gulf and Shell branded sites owned by Certas Energy across Scotland, while looking for opportunities of potential growth which fit in with the company’s strategy. “I was drawn towards this role at Certas after learning about the ambition within the retail team and expansion plans for the business,” commented Colin.  “I pride myself on the service I provide to customers and am always looking for ways I can improve customer service levels. “I look forward to being able to help push the retail side of the business forward, with a view to expanding the company‑owned retail forecourt position and to becoming a more prominent player in the forecourt industry.” “We warmly welcome Colin to our growing retail team,” said retail director Ramsay MacDonald.  “Colin has a proven track record of driving improvements in store standards and performance.  As Colin begins to embed himself in the business, we will be looking for him to utilise his experience and develop our business even further.” Certas Energy currently delivers fuel and lubricants to over 1,200 independent and dealer forecourts across the UK.www.certasenergy.co.uk

Senior advisor to CD&R Funds, Sir Terry Leahy is joining the MFG board Private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, (CD&R) will be partnering with the Motor Fuel Group (MFG) to acquire the company from its original institutional investor, Patron. Former chief executive of Tesco and current chairman of B&M European Value Retail,   Sir Terry Leahy is a senior advisor to CD&R’s Funds. The transaction, which is valued at approximately £500 million, is expected to close in July, subject to customary regulatory approvals. The MFG management team, whose chairman is oil industry veteran Alasdair Locke, partnered with Patron in 2011 to acquire the MFG business and today, it is the number two independent petrol and convenience retailer in the UK. Through a series of strategic acquisitions, Patron and MFG management have grown the company from 48 stations in 2011 to a current total of 373 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Texaco and Jet brands. In addition, MFG also operates a Murco-branded dealer network of more than 200 sites. In April 2015, MFG was ranked 9th in a league table of Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing profits in the 16th annual Sunday Times BDO Profit Track 100. Jeremy Clarke, managing director of MFG said: “We thank Patron for helping us to become one of the largest, most dynamic and profitable independent petrol and convenience retail operators in the UK and we are excited to be partnering with CD&R. The firm’s reputation for operational excellence and deep consumer and retail experience will be especially useful as we move the business forward to the next stage of profitable growth. “We are also delighted that Sir Terry Leahy will be joining the MFG board.” Marco Herbst, a partner at CD&R, commented: “We look forward to building on MFG management team’s success by continuing to accelerate the company’s transformation into a best-in-class petrol and convenience retailer.”www.cdr-inc.comwww.motorfuelgroup.com

Mark Bacon, appointed to head up Morris’s franchise programme Shrewsbury-based oil blender and lubricants manufacturer Morris Lubricants has appointed Mark Bacon to head up the company’s franchise programme. “I’m absolutely delighted to continue my long history in the franchise market and am extremely confident I can add value to the customer,” said Mark, who lives in Buckinghamshire. Mark has split the last 19 years of his career working for BP and Castrol, and is excited at the new challenge which lies ahead. “Morris Lubricants is very well respected in the industry and I’m delighted to be joining what is a very strong and knowledgeable team,” he added.

“ Morris has a range of products and programs to assist with very specific areas within the franchise programme and I’m excited about the support we can provide to dealerships and workshops over the coming months and years.“ Meanwhile a technical adviser with Morris has proved his knowledge of the industry by achieving a well-respected qualification. Wayne Devonport joined the Morris team just over a year ago and has been studying for the UKLA certificate of lubricant competence which he has now achieved with distinction.

Having been appointed  as the new FPS regional representative for Yorkshire and the North East of England, Janet Kettlewell has joined the FPS Council. Janet Kettlewell, who is operations manager at Ripon-based Kettlewell Fuels, a small independent family distributor formed in 1987, said:“  To be appointed as a regional representative is fantastic news. “Success in this industry is based on strong relationships with customers and colleagues, and I am keen to build great relationships with every oil distributor in Yorkshire and the North East.  I have a wealth of industry knowledge and experience as well as an understanding of this region. “Kettlewell Fuels is proud that it is one of the last remaining independent oil distributors in the area – we attribute this to the fact that we always go the extra mile for customers. “This commitment is something I will bring to my new role on the FPS Council. I will be helping and supporting all FPS members across the region, both on a personal and national level, ensuring they have an industry voice by representing their views and concerns at the quarterly Council meetings.  I look forward to making a big difference to the working lives of FPS members in this region.” To get in touch with Janet please email Janet.Kettlewell@kettlewellfuels.co.uk.

Brian Worrall’s new role as director of corporate affairs will enable Certas to develop stronger relations with government and industry Brian Worrall has been appointed as the new director of corporate affairs at Certas Energy. Brian, who has held positions at Chevron and Valero, has built up an extensive knowledge of the commercial, road, aviation and retail forecourt sectors. As the former independent chairman of the Downstream Oil Distribution Forum, he has an excellent understanding of the issues currently affecting the fuel industry and has played a key role in the development of the Petroleum Driver Passport. Joining the company four months after its rebrand from GB Oils, Brian is supporting the team by building and maintaining external relations, as well as developing the brand’s corporate responsibility strategy. Paul Vian, managing director of Certas Energy, commented: “Brian’s knowledge of the fuel industry and relevant experience in our key sectors makes him a valuable addition to our team. “We’re committed to developing stronger relations with government and industry bodies and establishing ourselves as a positive member of the communities we serve. Having Brian on board will enable us to engage in a higher level of dialogue with these groups.” Brian added: “Certas Energy is focused on playing an even greater role in the issues that matter to its customers and the industry as a whole. I look forward to working with the team to help make constructive contributions to policies and debates, while forging closer links with key external parties.”www.certasenergy.co.uk

Phillips 66 has further strengthened its commitment to UK fuel sales, appointing Tony Reddington as national sales manager for its UK & Ireland marketing division. In his new role, Tony will be 100% customer-focused, targeting new customers and strengthening existing relationships with supermarkets and high volume resellers and dealers throughout the UK and Ireland. He will take responsibility for the development of the company’s speciality fuel businesses – marine, aviation and LPG. Since joining the company in 1987, Tony has held a number of roles across its upstream, downstream and corporate divisions, with a particular specialism in finance. Pete George, the company’s managing director UK & Ireland marketing, commented: “Tony has extensive experience of our business and our brand, as well as an in-depth understanding of the UK and Ireland’s fuel market. He is well-placed to take on the challenge of increasing our market share, identifying new opportunities and developing our customer base across all of our fuel products.” www.phillips66.co.uk

Due to be launched on 1st January 2014, the scheme manager for the Petroleum Driver Passport (PDP) is the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). The scheme manager appointment follows a tendering exercise which saw SQA meet the quality and delivery requirements set by the UK Downstream Oil Distribution Forum (DODF). Brian Worrall, DODF independent chair welcomed the appointment:  “We continue to make rapid progress towards the launch of the PDP. SQA bring valuable experience and expertise which will ensure the quality and credibility of the PDP. Detailed work is now underway to ensure that the PDP will be launched on schedule. The PDP will give assurance to fuel terminal operators, customers and the wider public that all tanker drivers have a common core of tested knowledge and competence in the loading, driving and off-loading of fuel tankers. It is supported by the PDP training standard which all tanker operators will be able to use as the basis of driver training and development. The PDP builds on the knowledge already tested in the ADR certification process, incorporating additional knowledge and a practical assessment of skills. It includes content specific to five industry sub sectors; home heat, commercial, aviation, retail and marine. Delivered through a combination of in-house or third party training and assessment providers accredited and audited by SQA, the passport will be valid for 5 years and will include an annual refresher day and both a written and practical assessment. Email: john.bowman@skillsforlogistics.org

OJ Williams regional manager, south west, Steve Morgan OJ Williams has appointed a new regional manager, Steve Morgan, to oversee its commercial and domestic oil business in the south west of England. Steve brings over 15 years of managerial experience to the role, having held several senior positions within the FMCG and car hire sectors. Steve will be responsible for stimulating growth in the region, motivating the team and ensuring top customer service. Paul Williams, director, England and Wales, commented: “Over his career, Steve has worked in a wide range of sectors and the skills he has acquired will complement his new position within the fuel industry. His managerial expertise, coupled with his excellent reputation for customer service, ensures he will be a key addition to the team.” Steve said: “I’m looking forward to being able to apply my expertise as part of such a driven and dedicated team. I’m eager to contribute to OJ Williams’ continuing success and help to drive growth going forward, as well as to support the team in ensuring the OJ Williams brand is the first choice for customers across the region.”www.ojwilliams.co.uk

Cameron Forecourt managing director Barry Jenner with new operations manager, Martyn Roper Cameron Forecourt has appointed Martyn Roper as operations manager. The move comes as the company approaches the end of a record year in terms of turnover and profit despite another difficult year for the economy. Based at the company’s headquarters in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Martyn will have overall responsibility for production, installation and service activities. This will include project planning and the co-ordination of installation contracts throughout the country. Martyn is a qualified electrical and electronics engineer who spent the early part of his career as a design engineer working for avionics and computer companies. His first management role was at Sanderson Computers where he was UK engineering manager, before moving on to head of operations for a government-backed standards organisation serving the transportation industry. Barry Jenner, Cameron Forecourt managing director said: “As the company takes on bigger and more complex fuelling installation contracts, it has become necessary to appoint an overall coordinator to manage our nationwide activities. Martyn’s experience and knowledge will prove immensely helpful and will release others to concentrate on the maintenance of professionalism and quality which is at the core of all we do.”   www.cameronforecourt.co.uk

Linton Fuel Oils national account manager, Rupert Mills Rupert Mills has been appointed as national accounts manager at Linton Fuel Oils. Linton has offered national fuel deliveries to customers for some time, but Rupert’s introduction will allow a greater focus on offering a superior level of service to those who value a single point of contact for all of their fuel requirements. The company provides extensive coverage in London and the South East, and elsewhere uses only approved independent distributors. Rupert said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the smaller distributors to have a slice of the national cake, offering a very real alternative to the corporate suppliers who currently monopolise the market. The strength of the independents is based on the excellent service these companies have always offered.” Neil Flynn, sales director, said: “Linton nationwide will be carefully integrated into the traditional Linton business and will provide a great platform for the company’s growth strategy. With his extensive industry experience and in-depth knowledge of national accounts, Rupert is the ideal person to drive this new division forward.” www.lintonfueloils.com

Adam Kerbes has been appointed to oversee Pace Fuelcare’s business in the Midlands and will be based at a new office in Coleshill. Adam will oversee oil distribution depots across the region, including the new office in Coleshill, which is scheduled to open before the end of the year. His primary objectives will be to stimulate organic growth and position the Pace Fuelcare brand as the first choice for customers in the area. Adam brings a wealth of industry experience, having held senior managerial positions within the LPG and retail divisions at BP UK, before joining Pace Fuelcare five years ago. Adam said: “It’s my aim to ensure that we continue to provide the best level of customer service by extending our product range and service offering and providing individually-tailored packages, to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers. “The soon to be completed sales operation at Coleshill will play a key part in this by bringing our staff and distribution fleet from the nearby depots under one roof, making this location our transport hub for the region.” Philip Wharton, general manager for Pace Fuelcare, added: “Adam was the natural choice for this position as he has extensive business and oil industry knowledge to bring to the role.  His knowledge of the area and our customers’ requirements in this region are also vital qualities which will assist him to deliver the exceptional standards that our customers have come to expect.” www.pacefuelcare.co.uk

Tony, who will chair the Greenergy Audit and Risk Committee, joined Premier Oil as finance director in June 2005. He started his career as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen before joining Lehman Brothers inLondon, initially as an oil sector analyst.  He joined the investment banking division of Lehman in 1987 and from 1997 was managing director and head of the European Natural Resources Group.  In this role he managed both client relationships and numerous transactions for a variety of European and North American clients.

 Following its recent expansion, IFC has announced two new appointments.

New regional manager for south east Anglia, Keith Durrant GB Oils has appointed Keith Durrant as regional manager in south east Anglia, to manage the new Pace Fuelcare depot in Ipswich. Keith, who has lived much of his life in the local area, brings a wealth of business experience to the role, having held several senior managerial positions with companies such as ICI, Burmah – Castol and Total. Keith joined GB Oils two years ago. His primary objective in his new role will be to stimulate organic growth and elevate the Pace brand to become the first choice for customers across the region. The area includes oil distribution depots in Shefford, Letchworth, Cambridge, Braintree, and Hadleigh, plus the newly constructed multi million pound terminal in Ipswich. Simon Willis, general manager at GB Oils, commented: “Keith’s appointment to manage the business in south east Anglia comes following his successful work for the company during the past two years. We have no doubt that he will be fantastic in this new role and will help deliver our ambitious plans for the new depot and wider area.” Keith added: “As well as providing competitive pricing and continuous improvements to services, my aim is to ensure we continue to deliver exceptional standards of customer satisfaction, whilst remaining at the forefront of fuel distribution, both within east Anglia, and throughout the UK”.

Alex Ward GB Oils has appointed Alex Ward as London regional manager. The area has been recently established as a new operating region to better serve customers in the capital. As part of his new role, Alex will be responsible for leading the business in London, including the Pace Fuelcare barges on the River Thames. His primary objective will be to stimulate organic growth and elevate the Pace brand to become the first choice for customers. Alex has worked for the company for 12 months, previously as regional manager for GB Oils in the South East. He said: “As well as providing competitive pricing and continuous improvements to services, my main aim is to ensure we continue to deliver exceptional standards of customer service.” Simon Willis, general manager at GB Oils, added: “We have no doubt that he will be a fantastic addition to the team and will help deliver our ambitious plans for this new region.”