Tony Hammond has been appointed as managing director of the Taylor Maxwell Timber Group. Bob Haydock will remain as chairman.

Mr Hammond joined Taylor Maxwell in Bristol in 1979 as a marketing executive trainee. Four years later he moved to Leeds as an assistant manager, becoming manager a year later. In 1988 he was appointed regional manager in Scotland. He became an associate director in 1994 and a director in 1998.

Bob Haydock joined Taylor Maxwell in 1973. He was appointed as managing director in 1989 and became timber chairman and group deputy chairman in 1993.