A new Managing Director has been appointed at the largest soft drinks producer in Wales.
Simon Knight has assumed the role of Managing Director at Knighton-based Radnor Hills, with former Managing Director William Watkins stepping into the position of CEO.
Simon has worked as a consultant for Radnor Hills for the past two years, having been recommended by the Welsh Government.
He brings over 30 years of experience in the FMCG industry, including roles such as Sales and Marketing Director for the premium snacks brand Burts Snacks, where he helped grow the business from an £11 million to a £57 million turnover. Additionally, he has worked for Mars Wrigley.
Knight said, “I’m thrilled to be joining Radnor at such an interesting time. We have a great range of brands and lots of exciting new product development in the pipeline. Radnor is fast-growing and independent and has maintained a refreshingly agile way of working. I really like William’s ethos of continual investment in the company which allows it to flourish and grow.
“It’s very much a family business and I’ve been impressed with how passionate our team is about the brands we produce, our customers and consumers. I am very confident that we have everything in place for continued growth and success.'
He added, “The real magic is in Radnor’s basket of products which have been perfected over 36 years. The company produces every format from one site, including glass, RPET plastic, Tetra Pak and cans.
“I intend to bring a strategic and collaborative focus to my new role and will be setting very clear goals that bring the wider team together as one. Every person is vital for us to succeed so I’ll be focusing on our brilliant people and their capabilities to ensure we are set up for success and can ultimately deliver results for all of our stakeholders.”
Radnor Hills founder, William Watkins said, “I am absolutely delighted that Simon is joining the Radnor team, bringing a wealth of experience within FMCG to our business. He has a proven track record of growing businesses profitably, driving efficiencies, building customer relationships and getting the very best out of his team through a clear strategic focus.
“These are exciting times for the business. Radnor Hills continues to grow, and Simon’s focus will be on the day to day running of the business, allowing me to focus on the longer-term projects, ensuring we continue to have in place the capacity to keep up with the demand of our products.”
