Alan Dodds, the former MD and now executive chairman of Roca UK, is stepping back from the company he joined 25 years ago.
Dodds joined the company in 1999, just six years after Roca UK was founded, and the same year it acquired Laufen.
Under his leadership, Roca UK has consistently achieved year-on-year market growth with the two united brands and he also oversaw the opening of a dedicated Roca office, showroom and distribution centre in Ireland.
In 2011, the Roca London Gallery opened, designed by Zaha Hadid, and in 2014 UK sales of vitreous china exceeded one million pieces for the first time.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing, however, in 2001 a fire destroyed the office and warehouse facility in Coalville. Under Dodds’ direction, the team set up a temporary working office in a local hotel, sourced alternative warehousing and were back up delivering in just a week.
In 2019, Roca UK relocated to a new 145,000sqft facility in Bardon.
Dodds stepped back from the managing director role in 2022, becoming executive chairman, and Rashpal Sidhu took over the day-to-day running of the company.
He also played a hugely important role in the wider industry, becoming president of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association in 2018.
“After 25 very happy years, I feel that now is the time to hand over to the next generation to continue the good work and take the company forward,” he said. “When I look back at everything Roca UK has achieved, I couldn’t be more proud.”
Miquel Angel Munar, senior managing director, Roca Sanitario, S.A., said, “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Alan for his exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication, and the genuine humanity he has consistently shown in his relationships with colleagues and customers alike. It is rare to find a leader who can influence and leave such a profound mark on both an organisation and its people. Alan’s legacy at Roca UK will undoubtedly remain a source of inspiration for all of us.”
Look out for a full interview with Alan Dodds in the February issue of kbbreview.