The Team
Robin Watson - Chairman & Chief Executive
Rob founded Watson & Hillhouse in 1972. He was trained at the engineering company Garretts of Leiston, and later went on to join BSP, who pioneered the use of sheet piling in the UK, at their Claydon HQ. Working for BSP's own hire company, later bought by Tilbury Plant, he gained experience in the piling industry and established valuable international contacts.
rob@w-h.co.uk
Phillip Bell - Managing Director
Phillip joined Watson & Hillhouse straight from school in 1980 as Trainee Hire Manager, and was appointed Hire Manager in 1983. In 1989, after successfully running the hire desk for 6 years he was promoted to Depot Manager, where he was responsible for depot operations and management, plant control and workshop and service department resource capability.
In 1990 the Company secured the European Agency for the Tosa Still Worker Japanese 'Silent Pile Pressing Machine', this system had never been used in the UK. In 1992 the Company asked Phillip to take on the role of marketing the Still Worker and he was appointed Sales and Marketing Manager. Phillip studied Business Management and Marketing at University College Suffolk. He was appointed Managing Director in 2004.
phil@w-h.co.uk
Terry Rudland FCA - Finance Director & Company Secretary
Terry joined Watson and Hillhouse in July 2005. He previously spent 5 years as Group Accountant at TRG Recruitment Services a service based company working primarily in the recruitment sector. Prior to this Terry worked for 15 years for Vinten Broadcast Ltd a precision engineering manufacturer of television camera mounting systems sold worldwide. Terry was Financial Controller and involved in all aspects of accounting and a number of computer projects. Previously he worked for a retail company, also as an Accountant. Terry is a Chartered Accountant.
terry.rudland@w-h.co.uk
Marcus Watson - Director (Non Executive)
Marcus is an experienced corporate advisor and entrepreneur. He is a partner of London based corporate advisory firm Ironbridge Capital Partners LLP (http://www.ironbridgecp.com), and co-founder and director of a number of property development, retail, media and entertainment companies. Marcus worked for Duncan Lawrie as an investment analyst with unquoted technology companies before moving to Sigma Technology Management (LSE:SGM) which advises and invests in the TMT sector. Marcus went onto become Director of Sales & Marketing for Home House, the private members' club, and then co-founded Edison Interactive Group where he was Commercial Director. Marcus has a MSc in International Business Management from King's College, University of London.
marcus@w-h.co.uk
Paul Lee - Operations Director
Paul re-joined the Company in 2003 after a 13 year absence. He originally trained as an electrical fitter in the Royal Air Force before joining NCK Rapier, the crane manufacturer, as an electrical service engineer and supervisor. In 1979 Paul joined Watson & Hillhouse as an electrical fitter and service engineer, covering all the products in the Company and with specialist expertise in hydraulics and electrics. He left Watson & Hillhouse in 1989 to join the French foundation construction group Soletanche Fondaco as Superintendent and then Plant Manager. In 1993 he moved to Hong Kong as Workshop Manager for Bachy Solentache. In 2001 he became a technical advisor comprising accident investigation, compiling repair and safety procedures and day-to-day technical support of the workshop and Asian agencies. Paul re-joined the Company as Operations Manager and was made Operations Director in 2007.
paul@w-h.co.uk
Neil Davey - Sales and Marketing Manager
Neil joined the Company in 1979 from school as an apprentice service engineer. He completed his apprenticeship in 1983 and spent 6 years as an in-house and field service engineer. In 1989 he went on to manage the Company's northern depot, rejoining the Ipswich office in 1993 to run the Still Worker hire business as well as providing technical assistance to the hire and sales team. He was appointed Sales & Marketing Manager in 2004.
neil@w-h.co.uk
Ken Smith - Northern Depot Manager
Ken began his career with Watson and Hillhouse as apprentice plant fitter, and went on to become UK and European field service engineer for the company for over 12 years. Throughout this period he has seen considerable development of piling equipment and has a thorough piling background, gained from experience of working on a wide variety of plant.
In 1996, Ken moved on to work in the standby power industry as generator technician for a company now part of the Chloride Power group, where he progressed to become regional sales engineer for northern England and Scotland. In 2005 he rejoined Watson and Hillhouse to manage the Northern Depot in Warrington.
ken.smith@w-h.co.uk
Vivian Snell - Workshop and Service Manager
Vivian joined the company from school in 1986 as an apprentice service engineer. In 1991 shortly after completing his apprenticeship he was promoted to Workshop and Service Manager.
vivian@w-h.co.uk
Scott Double - Hire Controller
Scott joined the Company in 2001. Having spent a year at Otley college studying engineering he decided he wanted to move into an office/sales role.
scott@w-h.co.uk
Ricky Dade - Service Co-ordinator & Company Health and Safety Officer
Ricky started with the Company in 1999 as an Apprentice Service Engineer and in 2004 qualified as a full Service Engineer. Since 2004 Ricky has also achieved qualifications in electrical installation and electrical engineering.
In April 2008 Ricky was promoted to Service Co-ordinator to manage all site breakdowns. Ricky is also the Company Health and Safety Officer. His interests are watching films and cycling.
Keren Lees - Accountants Administrator and Secretary
Keren joined W &H in July 2001 as an Accounts Administrator and as Secretary to the Chairman and Managing Director. Prior to joining W&H, Keren worked for over seven years at Colchester Borough Council as a PA and receptionist, during which time she gained her AAT qualification in accounting.
keren@w-h.co.uk
Marion Stone - Purchase Ledger Controller and Receptionist
Marion started with W &H on a YTS scheme in 1986 and was taken on permanently soon after. Her role in the company has changed over the years from concentrating on filing and typing letters to today being purchase ledger controller and receptionist.
marion@w-h.co.uk