Steve Harper, the former managing director of Vital Earth GB Limited and latterly Business Operations Manager UK at Bord na Móna UK is now to head up all of the Bord na Móna UK (BNM UK) retail business.
He will report to John Corcoran, Head of Retail Sales at Bord na Móna, Ireland.
“I am really looking forward to taking responsibility for all of BNM UK’s rapidly increasing branded and own brand business in the UK and working with a fantastic existing team to accelerate development and growth even further," said Steve.
"We have two exciting growing media brands in Vital Earth and Growise, together covering off the peat reduction sector, and we will continue developing them into a market leading combination.
"The company is already one of the largest growing media suppliers into the UK and we will use our brand potential, our production capabilities and our distribution strength to increase our profile and position in growing media, while also looking to expand into other sectors.”
Steve will be responsible for all production, sales, marketing, operations and distribution in the UK, building Bord na Móna UK’s products, brands and infrastructure.
He added: “We are developing new products, new storage facilities and new distribution routes to service existing and prospective accounts with high quality peat-free, peat-reduced and peat-based product.
"This follows the success of the company’s first full year in the UK market for branded composts since taking over the sales and marketing resource of Vital Earth in January 2012.”
John Corcoran, Head of Retail Sales at Bord na Móna, Ireland, said, “This is great news for our UK company and for Bord na Móna Ireland, as Steve’s acceptance of the role confirms our absolute commitment to the development of our UK business.
"Bord na Móna UK has great advantages going forward – its ability to maintain supply; its ability to manage the peat reduction journey ethically and commercially through the provision of mixed loads of peat-free and peat-reduced ahead of Government targets; and its ability to create new brands and new products of character and strength.
"Bord Na Móna UK is already enjoying very successful sales in the UK and it has enormous further potential. Steve has been a part of that success for some time now and I am delighted that he is now in the position to take things forward fully.”
Pictured: Steve Harper (centre) with two young garden designers, who won Gold at Chelsea this year with help from Vital Earth sponsorship.
