Michael Chadwick (pictured) will leave his role as non-executive chairman of Grafton Group plc at the end of 2016. He will be succeeded in the role by Michael Roney, currently chief executive of Bunzl plc.

Grafton Group is an international distributor of building materials, employing c.11,000 people at 670 trading locations.  The group has strong national or regional positions in the merchanting markets in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium.

In Ireland, Grafton trades as Chadwicks and Heiton Buckley and operates the Woodies DIY stores.

Michael Chadwick joined Grafton in 1975, was appointed to the board in 1979 and was executive chairman from 1985 to 2011.

Under Chadwick’s direction, Grafton expanded from its Irish base into the UK with a string of takeovers. The company now primarily has a UK focus and is no longer listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. Chadwick celebrates his 65th birthday in May. His annual remuneration from Grafton Group is €150,000.

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