Falklands : Woolco Success Prompts Move to Local Management
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 02.11.2007 (Article Archived on 16.11.2007)
The Falkland Islands Wool Company is now run by Falkland Islanders
WoolCo success prompts move to local management.
The Falkland Islands Wool Company is to be run wholly by Falkland Islanders from next January. Rodney Lee, the Manager, will be assuming sole responsibility for day-to-day operations, and David Lambert is moving from the post of Managing Director to concentrate on a Market Development role, cementing active sales relationships with buyers who value the Falkland Islands Wool both now and as it becomes finer.
The company has now been in operation for a year. David Lambert has been pivotal its development from the outset, latterly as Managing Director. In the original business plan it was always intended that the company would be run in the longer term with local management. Rodney Lee has proven to be a very capable manager indeed, and the decision has been taken by the Directors to bring forward the time for David Lambert to move away from an operational role so that the company can make best use of his capabilities. The changes in the Islands' clip towards finer wools means that it is essential to engage with new buyers who value these wools more highly and will pay more - giving farmers more profit.
David has been doing two jobs for the past year; the new arrangements will leave him free to concentrate primarily on expanding the market. The board of directors and David have therefore mutually agreed that his contract as Managing Director will finish at the end of this year, but David is already being tasked with shifting his priorities. It is currently anticipated that David will leave the Islands, possibly for the last time, towards the end of November.
Mark Brunet, the Chairman of the company, said: "David has helped Falkland Islands wool growers over the past year that the concept of the Wool Company - effectively a co-operative, run by farmers for farmers - has real legs. There is still work to be done on market development, and the Board is delighted that David will be able to take forward the work which has already led to some significant new buyers purchasing Falkland Islands wool - at good prices. We are confident that, with Rodney Lee now driving forward the company on the Islands, we have a winning combination for the coming season".
Contact: Rodney Lee
The Falkland Islands Wool Company Limited
Shackleton House
West Hillside
Stanley
Falkland Islands
FIQQ 1ZZ
Tel : + 500 22297
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