Harris Group has appointed Bill Laidlaw as Chief Operating Officer for its UK operations, as the commercial vehicle distributor sets its sights on achieving annual revenues of €1 billion by 2030.
The appointment marks a significant step in the company’s long-term growth strategy and comes as Harris Group prepares to expand its presence across multiple commercial vehicle sectors, including a planned move into the heavy truck market.
Laidlaw will assume responsibility for Harris MAXUS UK, Harris Truck & Bus UK and any future additions to the group’s UK brand portfolio. He will also play a key role in identifying new business opportunities and supporting the next phase of the company’s expansion plans.
The announcement provides one of the clearest indications yet of Harris Group’s ambitions over the remainder of the decade. Already established as the largest independent commercial vehicle importer and distributor in the UK and Ireland, the business is now targeting annual revenues of €1 billion within the next four years.
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Laidlaw brings extensive leadership experience to the role and is already well known within the organisation, having played a significant role in the development of Harris Group’s UK operations over a number of years.
Maxus says his combination of commercial expertise, operational knowledge and understanding of customer requirements made him the standout candidate to help deliver the next stage of growth.
Brian Patterson, chief executive of Harris Group, said the appointment forms a central part of the company’s roadmap towards its ambitious revenue target.
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“We have set ourselves an ambitious target of achieving annual revenues of €1 billion by 2030 and have developed a clear roadmap to deliver it. Bill’s appointment is an integral part of that journey,” he said.
“Bill brings incomparable experience, strong leadership and a genuine passion for our business, our people and our customers.
“He has a deep understanding of the opportunities that lie ahead for Harris Group and a proven ability to deliver results. As we continue to expand our operations, strengthen our market position and explore new brand opportunities, Bill will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our objectives.”
Patterson added that Laidlaw had already made a substantial contribution to the growth of the company’s UK business.
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“He has already made a significant contribution to the growth of our UK business and I am confident that, in his new role as Chief Operating Officer, he will help drive the Group forward as we work towards our €1 billion target in 2030.”
The announcement also confirms a change in leadership at Harris MAXUS UK, with MD Steve Hunt taking early retirement.
