Tony Pedder, the chairman of Sheffield Forgemasters International (
www.sheffieldforgemasters.com), is retiring after 12 years in the role.
Mr Pedder, who holds a number of positions in South Yorkshire (including at the University of Sheffield and the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) has headed the company since a management buy-out in 2005.
After helping to bring the company to the forefront of British engineering and following 10 years of profitability, Mr Pedder — along with chief executive Graham Honeyman — faced a two-year challenge of returning the company to profitability after the collapse of offshore oil and gas markets pushed it into the red.
Forgemasters now serves markets including civil nuclear, defence, power generation, materials processing, design and R&D services.
"Mr Pedder said: “I am very proud to have been part of the story that saw the company saved from liquidation by the management buy-out. I think it is now time for me to let the next generation of leaders take the business forward. The company is now back around break-even, well ahead of schedule; and with renewed backing from our bank, this seems a sensible point for me to step down.”
Tony Pedder is a former CEO of Corus plc and will still retain affiliations with steel making and general manufacturing as a director of Metalysis Ltd, a director of EEF Ltd and chairman of Albion Steel Ltd.
Dr Honeyman said: “I would personally like to thank Tony for the support he has given to me in taking the company in the right direction and preserving the jobs and futures of many people.
“Tony has helped to create a legacy which the whole country can be proud of; and after two years of restructuring, we have secured healthy backing from our financiers and are in a strong position to take the business forward.”