Vijay Thakrar BSc, FCA

Chair

Appointed: 2019

Experience: Vijay Thakrar is a chartered accountant who was a partner at Deloitte and EY before taking up a number of non-executive director (NED) roles. He has served as a NED on various boards, including Quorn Foods and The Quoted Companies Alliance. He is currently on the boards of Alpha Group International plc, RSM Group and Treatt plc where he is chair. Vijay Thakrar also holds the position of Chair of the Nomination Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Paul Hooper BSc, MBA, DipM

Chief Executive

Appointed: 2001

Experience: Paul Hooper joined Alumasc as Group Managing Director in April 2001. His earlier career included a first Managing Director role with BTR plc in 1992. He subsequently joined Williams Holdings plc in Special Operations, implementing acquisitions in Europe and North America, prior to joining Rexam PLC as a Divisional Managing Director with responsibility for operations in Europe and South East Asia. Paul is the Senior Independent Director of Titon Holdings Plc.

Simon Dray BSc, FCA

Group Finance Director

Appointed: 2021

Experience: Simon Dray qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte, before moving to work in industry. From 2002 to 2008 he worked at Halma plc as Group Financial Controller, before joining Low & Bonar plc in 2008, working in a variety of senior finance roles, including interim CFO, before becoming Director of Strategy and M&A. Simon has significant experience in listed multinational manufacturing and engineering companies, including financial, M&A and strategic development expertise.

Stephen Beechey BSc, MA, MRICS, MCIOB, MAPM

Non-executive Director

Appointed: 2019

Experience: Steve has worked in the construction industry for over 35 years and has a broad understanding of all aspects of the business and corporate governance. He is also an executive director of the Wates Group, one of the largest privately owned construction, development and property services companies in the UK, where he sits on the Group Executive Committee and the Construction Group Board. He is also a Director of Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd. He also works closely with Government as a member of the Construction Leadership Council and was a member of the taskforce that developed the Construction playbook. Steve chairs the Alumasc Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.

Karen McInerney BA Hons, FCA

Non-executive Director

Appointed: 2022

Experience: Karen McInerney is a qualified chartered accountant with 30 years' experience at Computacenter plc, where she currently leads financial operations as Group Financial Controller. Karen has a wealth of experience in accounting, financial reporting, acquisitions, as a pension trustee, tax and treasury management, audit committee/governance matters, and is also a member of the risk committee at Computacenter plc. Karen holds the position of Chair of The Alumasc Audit Committee and is a member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Gilbert Jackson

Executive Director

Appointed: 2019

Experience: Gilbert Jackson, currently responsible for the Building Envelope division of Roofing, has extensive experience in building products and the construction industry. He championed the idea of specification-led cross-selling of a warranted system approach. Gilbert joined Alumasc in 2011, having previously worked at Polypipe Civils Ltd, Marley Waterproofing and IKO.

Michael Leaf

Executive Director

Appointed: 2019

Experience: Michael Leaf joined Alumasc in 2011 as Managing Director of Timloc Building Products where he has overseen significant growth in both the revenues and profitability of the business. Michael has also performed a number of other roles during his time with Alumasc, including the management of the Pendock and Engineering businesses prior to their sale. Michael is currently the Divisional Managing Director of the Housebuilding Products division. For the last 25 years Michael has held a number of senior positions within the building products industry and prior to joining Alumasc, Michael was a director at Ideal Standard (UK) Ltd.