Wickland Westcott

Ridgeons Group - Cultural & Organisational Fit

In executive recruitment, identifying candidates with the right skills and experience is absolutely critical. Equally important however is fit, particularly around alignment between the values and motivations of the appointed candidate and the culture and objectives of the organisation. Philip Gardiner describes one assignment where this person-organisational fit was particularly crucial.

Founded in 1911 Ridgeons Group is one of the largest independent builders' merchants in the UK. Headquartered in Cambridge, Ridgeons employ over one thousand people and has 28 branches and sites in East Anglia.

It is a private limited company owned by the Ridgeon family and administered via a trust. Over nearly a century the family has remained committed to a set of values which are expressed in the Ridgeons Group philosophy and vision. Family members have nurtured and developed an organisational culture where excellent customer service is delivered by motivated and highly committed staff and the family plays an important and ongoing role in the stewardship and governance of the business. The Company in recent years has shown good growth, both organic and acquisitive, whilst continuing to produce strong financial results.

Company Chairman, Anne Ridgeon, a fourth generation family member, is personally committed to ensuring the long term success of this values-led busines. She and the family shareholders recognised a need to bring in senior commercial expertise, to fully equip the business for the challenges in a highly competitive and increasingly consolidating marketplace. She tasked Wickland Westcott to fill two roles - Group Managing Director and Group HR Director. Her brief was precise: she wanted people who had a proven track record of business leadership combined with the capability to help deliver measured growth and ensure the future success of the Group and its people. However, they also had to understand, engage with, and ultimately be willing to safeguard, the unique Ridgeons' values.

After a rigorous search and assessment process, Angela Rushforth was appointed Group MD earlier this year and more recently Chris Greaves joined as HR Director. With proven and relevant backgrounds in industry they both brought a rare blend of commercial and functional experience coupled with a strong and genuine passion for people-centred management practices. Angela and Chris are progressing very well in their respective roles, and equally importantly, are working in partnership with other key personnel to deliver the Groups' business and cultural aspirations. Chairman Anne Ridgeon concludes:

"Working for a family business has its own set of challenges - as well as rewards, I hope! As our brief was somewhat demanding, we had our doubts about finding the perfect fit for the Company. However, we are delighted and the best compliment I can give is that it feels like they have both been here for years!".