We are thrilled to announce that Paul Massenhove will be joining PGR on Wednesday 1st September as our new Operations Director. 

Whilst in the interim, we got to know Paul a little more, here is what Paul had to say! 

About Me

+ I am an Essex boy through and through! I live in Burnham on Crouch
+ I have been married to my wife, Sandra, for 27 years!
+ I have a 15-year-old son called Freddie
+ I am an Arsenal season ticket holder
+ I love playing golf and have a handicap of 12
+ I help manage a kids football team - I started at U7's, now U16's. I took the team to Burnham Ramblers this year!
+ I have a static caravan in Woodbridge, Suffolk - you will find me here most weekends during the summer!

Work History

I worked for Travis Perkins for 32 years. I started in 1989 as a Management Trainee at the Wickford branch, before working in most of the Essex branches. I then went on to manage Southend, Colchester and Chelmsford. After this, I continued my career in a regional role looking after the whole of Essex for seven years before broadening my experiences in East and West Sussex, Kent and South London. More recently, and for the past six years, I was a Regional Director at Keyline, in the Civils and Drainage Division, looking after the South East. 

Why now?!

After turning 50 in May, I felt I needed a fresh new challenge, somewhere that I could share/use my knowledge and experiences. This brought me back in the general merchanting game, and with a company that matches my ambition, drive and growth plans! 

My Strengths

+ Operational experience - I can support branches to become better at what they do, be more efficient, safer and ultimately make more money
+ Empowering colleagues - Whether it's a Branch Manager or Branch Staff, giving people ownership and accountability of their own performances usually brings better results 
+ Contacts - I have good customer/supplier contacts within the Essex market
+ Colleague development - It's very important for the company to have a pipeline for talent, having a successful system is essential and something I really believe in
+ Making monies - It's what we are here to do!

Fun Fact 

In the 2001/02 season, Arsenal had won the league and after the game whilst celebrating outside the stadium, Sky Sports caught me standing on a phone box singing and dancing live on air! The following morning, I got a message from my Managing Director at the time, checking if I had managed to get home okay and suggested that my singing and dancing skills needed to improve!