Simon Ayers has joined TrustMark, the Government-endorsed quality mark for reputable tradesmen, as its new Chief Executive, taking over from Alan Slaney who had run the organisation as interim CEO since June 2013 and who now returns to the Board as a Non-Executive Director.
Simon joins TrustMark from Capita Business Systems (Energy) where he was a project director in the building services sector and head of two operational businesses.
He has also had roles as customer services director and operations director for the Gas Safe Register, and in 2012 Simon led the successful establishment and delivery anumber of new energy efficiency initiatives for Scottish and Southern Energy.
He has extensive knowledge and experience of running and developing consumer-facing businesses that promote accredited tradespeople and SMEs in the domestic and commercial repair, maintenance and improvement sectors, and of cultivating and delivering major new business opportunities through organic growth and acquisition strategies.
Liz Male, Chairman of TrustMark, said: “The Board would also like to thank Alan for his exceptional achievements in steering TrustMark through the major changes of the last 12 months to its leading position today. It means that Simon joins us at what is probably the most pivotal and exciting stage of TrustMark’s development since it was created in 2005.
“The ‘New TrustMark’ was launched this April by the Consumer Minister with a new unrestricted master licence from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and upgraded core criteria, the Government-endorsed standards at theheart of the scheme.
“Since then we have been flooded with new opportunities and expressions of interest from partners, firms and scheme operators, and we are on the cusp of launching several important new developments in TrustMark’s services to the consumer. Therefore Simon will be leading a very busy team to capitalize on all this and to maintain the momentum of growth and scheme improvement.”
Simon Ayers, added: “I’m really thrilled to be joining TrustMark and to be spearheading the future direction of the organisation. It is also a great opportunity for me to drive forward my passion to support consumers and to help build the reputation of the trades to ensure they continue to deliver quality services. TrustMark has huge potential, real momentum following the relaunch, and a strong vote of commitment from Government, industry and consumer groups. My role will be to extend TrustMark’s consumer protection work, and to explore and exploit all the further growthopportunities.
“TrustMark’s bold vision is for a future where rogue traders are effectively eliminated from the RMI sector because of the widespread recognition of TrustMark as the quality mark to look out for. Because of the extent of industry support and take up, and because the consumer will always choose to use TrustMark registered firms, I firmly believe that we can achieve this vision.”
