29 March 2024, 11:17
By Furniture News May 23, 2023

Change of ownership at surfacing specialist

Leeds-based supplier of surface materials and complementary products, CDUK, has announced a change of ownership that sees MD, Andy Noble, acquiring the business from Gary Baker.

Founded over 40 years ago by Geoff Baker and business partner Toni Hibbert, CDUK has built a reputation as the exclusive distributor of Corian Solid Surface in the UK and Ireland.

Andy Noble joined CDUK as national sales manager in 2013 and was appointed MD in 2020. He boasts over 17 years’ experience in the surface industry and, working closely with Gary, has contributed to changing the perception of the business from a material supplier to a trusted design partner for architects, designers and fabricators.

Gary comments: “Since CDUK was founded nearly 45 years ago by my father and Toni Hibbert, we’ve prided ourselves on offering great service to our customers as well as being at the centre of the solid surface industry through distributing Corian. I am proud to be handing on the business to Andy with whom I have worked closely now for over 10 years.

"Over the last couple of years, Andy and his senior management team have taken on more and more responsibility for leading the business. It was really important to me to have a succession plan involving people who understand where CDUK has come from and who will maintain the values we have always held dear. At the same time, the company is in a great place to thrive and adapt to new challenges. I look forward to seeing how Andy and his team grow and develop the business in the future.”

Andy adds: “I’m incredibly proud and lucky to have been given the unique opportunity to continue the market leading work established by Gary and his father Mr Baker over the last 44 years. We work with some excellent supply partners, not least Corian Solid Surface, with whom we have a long-lasting and fruitful partnership, as well as some world-class designers, fabricators and manufacturers who turn our surfaces into the outstanding applications and projects. Added to that is an enthusiastic, forward-thinking team at CDUK who I thoroughly enjoy working with. Having worked with them for 10 years, taking ownership of the company is a great opportunity and I’m very much looking forward to connecting with new communities and markets with a wider portfolio of surface solutions in the future."

CDUK secured a £3m finance facility from Lloyds Bank which was implemented as part of the management buyout.

Andrew Gaunt, business development director at Lloyds Bank, comments: “CDUK is a long-standing and valued client of Lloyds Bank plc. As such, we were incredibly pleased to support Andy with the management buyout of the business, as we have no doubts that he will be able to take it to the next stage of its growth journey.

“Over the last couple of months, we have seen growing confidence from Yorkshire businesses with an emphasis on growth and expansion, so we are looking forward to standing alongside CDUK as it enters the next phase of its development.”

Pictured: Andy and Gary

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