JOHN MCCLUSKEY JOINS EVA-LAST LEADERSHIP TEAM TO HELP GUIDE EXPANSION PHASE
John McCluskey, former executive director at Franke Kitchens, has joined global building products group Eva-Last as Director: Warehouse Operations & Inventory Management. McCluskey’s appointment bolsters the South Africa-based group’s expansion drive as it seeks to increase global market share.
With a background spanning Barlow Group, Alcatel Altech Telecoms, Marine Data Systems, Gemcom, McCormick and Inhep Electronics, McCluskey has held several executive positions in operations and supply chain management before joining Franke Kitchens as head of operations. His experience in managing a global business with 82 facilities worldwide from a main distribution centre in South Africa was what drew the attention of Eva-Last®, which has embarked on a three-year expansion drive to further entrench its global market presence.
Eva-Last® CEO Marc Minne says McCluskey’s extensive experience in logistics and distribution management will add significant value to the business. “John was a clear cultural fit for Eva-Last given his understanding of our industry and customer profile. His role will be to increase and improve our distribution footprint in South Africa and the SADC region.”
Minne says Eva-Last’s growth strategy and organisational restructure will see the business more than doubling in headcount, beginning with key strategic leadership roles to position Eva-Last for international growth.
“We have engaged with the country’s top talent head-hunters in a rigorous process of sourcing the skills and experience we need to fulfil our growth ambitions. John, like other talent we will bring onboard, is someone who is demonstrably the best in his field, with years of quality building materials industry experience and operations management behind him. This is a concerted drive to attract those who have excelled in the industry.”
According to McCluskey, who takes up his new role in February 2021, he is excited to create the systems, back office capability and support which will be required during Eva-Last’s rapid growth phase. “This is the crucial phase of ensuring that the business can meet customer needs as it grows and evolves. My role will be to make sure that we can provide all the support Eva-Last® needs now that it has outgrown its original distribution footprint.”
Minne believes assembling a leadership team made up of the best of the best in the industry will pay dividends. “John’s track record speaks for itself and he will form a vital part of the team to take this business forward. We couldn’t be more excited to have him on board.”