Peter Latham OBE, who joined James Latham in 1973 as the seventh generation of his family to enter the business, has passed away following a short illness, reports the independent trade distributor of timber, panels and decorative surfaces.
As chairman from 2006-17, he led a period of modernisation, sustainability focused initiatives, and expansion into panel products and specialist materials.
"Over his 44-year career, he became one of the most influential figures in the UK timber trade," states the distributor. "Peter was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012 for services to the UK wood industry.
"Beyond James Latham, he held senior roles in forestry organisations, including chairman of PEFC, director of the Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux (ATIBT), and trustee of the Commonwealth Forestry Association.
"In 2018, Peter received the Timber Trade Journal Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his long-standing leadership in timber distribution and environmental stewardship. In 2019, he was appointed non-executive forestry commissioner, providing strategic oversight of forest policy, sustainability and land management across England until 2025.
"Peter was widely liked and highly respected across the industry, and we know the news of his passing will be felt deeply by many," James Latham concludes.
