IDS has promoted two new directors to its senior management team. Sara Jones is operations director for the north and Alex Rees covers that role in the south.
Operations director was previously one role, but IDS decided to split the role and have two people covering the north and south.
In the company’s 20-year history, Jones is the first woman on the IDS board. She joined the business in 1994 as a trade counter assistant and was eventually promoted to regional director since 2011.
In her new role, she will have full responsibility for five distribution sites across the north of England, as well as the production facility and digital business at Parkhouse at Stoke.
Rees joined IDS after nine years’ experience at Saint-Gobain, Jewson, Gibbs and Dandy, Normans and British Gypsum. Most recently Alex completed a secondment assignment with Saint-Gobain Lodhia Gypsum in Tanzania, where he rebuilt and managed a sustainable plasterboard facility.
Rees will be responsible for sales and operations at 11 branches in the south of England.
John Bagshaw, managing director of IDS, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sara and Alex to their new roles and I am confident they both have the experience, insight and energy to help guide the business forward through the Covid economy.
“Over 26 successful years Sara has attained a wealth of knowledge and experience, alongside many leadership awards. I am pleased to promote her and welcome her input at board level. Alex is a welcome addition to the IDS team, bringing a wealth of experience in general management and business improvement that will be extremely valuable to the business.”