Leng joins Customade as Group CEO
16th January 2018

David Leng, who stepped down as Synseal CEO last year, was today announced as Group Chief Executive of Customade Group, succeeding John Lightowlers, who continues in a non-executive role.

Leng joins the group which emerged 11 months ago from the merger of Customade and Polyframe, taking sales past the £100million and giving it arguably the broadest product and system portfolio in the industry.

He had stepped down at Synseal in September following a refinancing of the company two weeks earlier. During his eight years with the company, he took the company from a £70m manufacturer of window profiles and conservatories, to become a £160m multi-channel, multi-material business in the window, glass, roof and door sectors.

Customade adds that, over the last 16 years, David has led the transformation of several complex manufacturing businesses with turnovers ranging from £20m to £300m. It continued: “Customade has benefitted from considerable investment in the last 12 months and David’s expertise will be instrumental in scaling the business and generating further growth, to ensure that the company fulfils its potential.

“In the year since Customade merged with Polyframe, John Lightowlers and his team have created the UK’s largest trade fabricator of PVCu, aluminium and composite windows and doors. He has overseen the successful consolidation of the four acquired businesses, to create a £100 million company that operates nationwide, with nine manufacturing facilities and over 900 employees.. John has been instrumental in establishing and settling a strong management team and maintaining the quality of offering, service and innovation that differentiates Customade from its competitors.”

The group statement adds: “David Leng is tasked to drive the business forward, doubling its scale to build a company with a turnover in excess of £200 million in the medium term.

He said of his appointment: “We have ambitious goals to fulfil and Customade is well structured, with strong investor support, exceptional products, first-rate employees and a well-deserved reputation for superior service. I look forward to leading the next phase of its development.”

John Lightowlers said: “The merger with Polyframe was the culmination of an ambition to grow my business into the successful enterprise that it is today. To have achieved so much and with the support of a great team fills me with pride. At the time of the deal, I committed to stay for as long as was needed to ensure that the merger transitioned well, to give the management team the support that they required during a period of intense change and to prepare the company to fulfil its potential.”

www.thecustomadegroup.co.uk