J. & J. Denholm Marks the New Year with Executive Leadership Transitions
Pictured (l-r): John Denholm, Ben MacLehose, Simon Preston
The transition from 2020 to 2021 marks a significant change in the executive leadership of J. & J. Denholm. On 31st December 2020, John Denholm and Greg Hanson stepped down as Group Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer respectively, after leading the Denholm Group together for over a quarter of a century. Stepping into their positions as of 1st January 2021, Ben MacLehose is appointed Group Chief Executive and Simon Preston is appointed Chief Financial Officer.
Although stepping down as Chief Executive, John Denholm will continue to be closely engaged with the Group as Chairman. While retiring from his executive role, Greg Hanson will be involved with the Group, having agreed to be a non-executive director.
John Denholm has been working for the Denholm Group since May 1981. He was appointed Chief Executive in 1993 and Chairman in 1998. Reflecting on his time leading Denholm, John Denholm said, “I have seen the Group travel through an incredible journey over the last 39 years and it is now time to pass the reins on to a new generation. I identified Ben MacLehose as my successor some years ago. I have been working closely with him for several years and I can step back, safe in the knowledge that I am leaving the Group in good hands.”
Newly appointed CEO, Ben MacLehose, is a fifth-generation member of the Denholm family. He trained as a Chartered Accountant and worked in restructuring and insolvency before joining the Denholm Group in April 2012 as Group Commercial Manager. He was appointed Group Managing Director in June 2017, as well as an executive member of the J. & J. Denholm board.
Ben MacLehose commented, “It has been a privilege working with and learning from John Denholm since joining the Group. I am delighted he is remaining closely involved as Chairman and I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with him through the next chapter of the Group’s story. I am also very lucky to be embarking on this new chapter with someone as strong and committed as Simon Preston.”
Newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, Simon Preston, joined the Denholm Group in 2005 as an accountant. In 2017, he was appointed Group Finance Director and an executive member of the J. & J. Denholm board.
Simon Preston commented, “I am delighted to have formed such a strong working relationship with Ben MacLehose and I believe that, with Ben at the helm, the Group will continue to thrive in the years to come.”
J. & J. Denholm is the parent company of subsidiaries belonging to diversified family-owned business the Denholm Group. Its roots can be traced back to 1866 and today, the Group operates four divisions: Shipping, Logistics, Seafoods and Industrial Services. The Denholm Group employs over 1,000 people, who work to the principles of the ‘Denholm Standard’: upholding the law, integrity, fairness and respect.