Stewart Group, the UK manufacturer and supplier of plastic moulded products for the gardening, home, professional catering, technical and packaging sectors, has appointed Andy Burns as Group Sales and Marketing Director.

Burns will have management responsibility for the growth and strategic development of Stewart’s sales and marketing activity across all sales channels.

Burns joins Stewart’s from Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s largest white goods manufacturer, where he held the positions of Head of Marketing and, more recently, Head of Sales for the UK. While at Whirlpool Corporation, Burns oversaw online, retail and trade channels worth a combined £45 million. 

Previously, Burns was Marketing Director at Stanley Europe with strategic marketing responsibility for the entire UK product portfolio. This comprised five product categories with a combined turnover of over £100 million. Burns reduced departmental costs by 14% and developed a forecasting model to maximise returns on financial resources. He also project managed, from concept to completion, Stanley Europe’s corporate brand and product showcase including a customer visitor centre. Burns was a key member of the steering committee that relocated Stanley’s UK Headquarters, transferring 120 people without disruption to the business.

Richard Butler, CEO at Stewart Group, said: “We welcome Andy to the company. With his background he can add extensive brand and category management expertise to our commercial team. His motivation and strategic marketing planning skills will also be vital assets to the future of Stewart Group.”

Burns commented: “I look forward to working closely with Nigel Thompson and the members of the sales & marketing team, together our aim will be to quickly build on our past successes and take the business onto the next level. We have an enviable brand position in the channels in which we operate and leveraging this to the benefit of our consumers & customers will be the key to our success.”

Stewart Group offers an extensive portfolio of products, from garden planters and propagators to food containers and specialist storage products. Three specialist divisions also work across the aerospace, automotive and medical industries.