As the first ever non-family member to lead the group, Mr Cairns’ tenure has seen the 160-year-old family business double in turnover to almost £200m, with several consecutive years of record profitability up to the present day.
Mr Cairns has served as group MD for the past eight years. Prior to that he was MD for both James Donaldson Timber and MGM Timber and has spent over 24 years with the group in total.
“I am proud to have played a part in the guiding, growing and development of our group of companies over my tenure at JDS,” he said. “The business is in fantastic shape and will continue to grow via organic and acquisitive means. During 2020 it will be the next generation of the family that will develop this special business and lead a truly talented workforce, one which individually and collectively puts our customers at the core of everything we do.”
Andrew Donaldson will succeed Mr Cairns as the new group MD. Mr Donaldson is currently the group finance director and will also be the sixth generation Donaldson to lead the business.
Mr Cairns will continue in an advisory role on the supervisory board as a non-executive Director under the leadership of new chairman Michael Donaldson in 2020.
