How We Recruited the Ideal Managing Director to Drive Brocklesby’s Next Chapter

By David Kitney, Managing Director, Emmerson Kitney

Back in January, Neil Taylor received an unexpected phone call that would spark an exciting new chapter in his career.

Having successfully led East Yorkshire-based Bankside Patterson as Managing Director for 14 years, achieving a 75% share of the UK holiday home chassis market and guiding the business through its sale in 2019, Neil had begun to look for a fresh challenge.

At the same time, Brocklesby Ltd, a market-leading waste food recycling business with turnover of £16.8 million, needed to recruit a new Managing Director. Owner Rob Brocklesby was ready to step back from the day-to-day running of the business after years of growth, and turned to Emmerson Kitney to find the right successor.

Our team carried out detailed research and proactive outreach through our board-level network, identifying a number of exceptional candidates, including Neil.

“I had been exploring a new challenge and was in discussion with Emmerson Kitney,” Neil explained. “I’d also considered investing in a business, when Emmerson Kitney approached me with an opportunity they felt was an excellent match locally.”

Neil was immediately intrigued.

“They presented a compelling case for why the role could be the right next step for me. When I met Rob, I knew straight away it was a challenge I wanted to take on. The business had grown strongly in recent years, but was facing a significant challenge after a major fire in December,  alongside the arrival of Covid-19. I felt my experience and skills were a good fit to help steer Brocklesby through that.”

Neil ultimately secured the role, which he credits to more than just his track record:

“I believe Emmerson Kitney understood more than just the skills the role needed. They considered personalities, cultural fit, and how I could work with Rob and the team to ensure a smooth transition. That made all the difference.”

Delivering Results During a Critical Time

Four months into the role, Neil is energised by the move.

“I’m proud of what I achieved at Bankside Patterson, but a fresh challenge is truly invigorating,” he said. “We’ve already achieved so much at Brocklesby, despite dealing with the fire damage and Covid-19 disruption. We’ve reinvested £1.5 million alongside insurance funds to rebuild the site and enhance our capacity. Sales have surpassed where they were before the March lockdown, which is a fantastic result.”

Looking forward, Neil sees even more potential:

“Brocklesby is dedicated to constant innovation and developing products that meet customer needs. As we grow further, we’ll need to recruit more people, and I will definitely involve Emmerson Kitney again, both in identifying roles and finding the best people to fill them.”

Why This Was a Critical Hire

Reflecting on the process, I’m extremely proud of how our team supported Brocklesby at such a pivotal moment.

Neil was someone we had a long-standing relationship with, and when Rob shared his ambitions for stepping back, we instantly recognised Neil’s potential to take the business forward.

Finding the right Managing Director in a family-owned business is never straightforward. There are huge considerations, not only around commercial experience and sector knowledge, but personality and culture. In this case, it was vital to identify someone who could build on Rob’s incredible legacy, while navigating immediate challenges from the fire and pandemic.

Our knowledge of the regional senior market, combined with the use of industry-leading behavioural and personality profiling tools, made all the difference. We focus on the human elements behind a CV, understanding how a person will truly fit within a business. That is why our appointments so often succeed.

If you are a business owner or board looking to build your leadership team, I’d be delighted to discuss how we can help you secure the best possible appointment. Feel free to get in touch for a confidential conversation.

David Kitney
Managing Director
Emmerson Kitney