Gavin Pitt Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom & Ireland

O'Flaherty Holdings is one of Irelands largest family businesses with interests in the automotive, manufacturing & construction sectors. Owned by the Group AER Rents Ltd supports Mr. Plant Hire, Mainline Group, Welfare 4 Hire, Chippindale Hire & Sales and Hudson Lifting in the UK, and Drogheda Hire & Sales in Ireland. AER Rents Ltd is looking to continue to significantly expand the Groups interests in the plant hire market over the coming years.Key ResponsibilitiesThe expansion and management of the Groups Plant Hire businessesSupport the management teams to implement their national targets across the existing and new network of sitesDelivering excellent operational performance across all indicators, sales, after-sales, people, safety, quality, service, efficiency and cost.AchievementsAcquired Drogheda Hire & Sales, Mainline Group, Welfare 4 Hire, Chippindale Hire & Sales and Hudson Lifting in a three year period, and successfully integrated them into the Group with the appointment of new business leaders at the culmination of each of the individual acquisition processes.Established a management services function within AER Rents with the appointment of an FD, FC, HRBP and Head of Marketing to provide cross-Group support to drive integration and optimise business performance of our existing businesses, and provide a platform for the second stage of Group expansion to allow AER Rents to achieve its strategic vision of becoming the UK & Irelands leading independent hire company.

Midlands & South West

Responsible for running the Central Region from eight Depots across the Midlands & South West. Based at Nuneaton.

South West

Responsible for the five depots that comprise the company's South West Region.

South East England

Responsible for the fifteen mixed-product depots that comprise the company’s London & South East Region. Annualised hire revenue of £34m generated from 253 operations and sales staff producing £10m EBITA. Fleet value of £78m. In five years transformed a Region that was at break-even to become one of A-Plants top performers delivering £10m PBT (28.7% margin).Introduced pricing disciplines that delivered average rate yields 6-10% better than the other six Regions.Launched a strategy to improve asset flow in the network and increased utilisation from 69.5% to 76.8% within a two year period.Leveraged the network by adding additional product groups across the Region to improve service delivery and profitability. Depots with ROI above 15% increased from 3 to 10.Developed a sales plan focussed on reducing 12 month non-moving assets. Achieved 30.4% reduction in the first month – Now aligned with a plan to repair all assets.

South East England

Responsible for the five depots that comprised the company’s South East area. Annualised hire revenue of £3.4m generated from 38 operations and sales staff.Increased hire revenue at Charlton Depot by 55% in the first three months through development of Utilities customers and growth in our market share on the Olympics project.Developed a business plan to improve the utilisation of the Access fleet that was purchased with the GLO Hire acquisition.Introduced operating disciplines aimed at reducing costs and improving efficiencies to enhance the levels of service received by our customers. This cut external haulage costs by 23% in the third quarter.

Leyland, Lancashire

Undertook a strategic review of the Group Plant strategy. 2008 plant spend in excess of £20m spent through 300 suppliers. Rationalised the supply base down to 56 strategic, approved and niche suppliers.Ongoing management and development of supplier relations for Plant. This delivered savings of £1.6m pa by realising value chain opportunities with key suppliers.Provided leadership of the Plant Hire team of 28 staff based in Leyland.

United Kingdom

Prior to the divestment of the tools business led the largest business unit in Hewden with 52 plant and tool depots employing 420 staff delivering revenues in excess of £30m.Managed a significant change management programme throughout 2007 when the company sold its tools division which reduced the size of the business by 40%. This gave experience in managing conflict, leadership and flexibility, managing process, strategy and refocusing on employee development.Implemented a new ERP system called Movex M3 which reengineered the business, in a live environment. This required significant retraining and support for the staff.

United Kingdom

Led the biggest region in the Group of 61 stores contributing turnover of £24.5m and a PBT margin of 11%. Also generated annual revenue growth in excess of 7.5% in final three years with company with mature depot network.Introduced RGB & Covers as licenced partners in Tool Hire Agency agreement to develop rental opportunities within independent builders merchants.Developed and introduced the Business Builder file which became an issued resource in all UK stores as the standard reference for all customer development activity.Conceived and opened flagship Kings Cross Superstore serving Central London which broke revenue records within nine months of start up and went on to exceed revenues of £1.5m pa. Prior to this held Area & Depot Manager roles in the South and South East having started with the company in 1988.

Master Of Business Administration (Mba), Business Administration And Management, General, Mba Accredited By The Chartered Management Institute (Cmi)

The Brighton MBA is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Graduates gain dual awards - both an MBA and a CMI Strategic.

Education record

Activities and Societies: O & AO Level Qualifications