Part of the Caleffi group, Altecnic has traded successfully for the last 30 years and is continually looking to increase its market share and deliver the best possible standards of service to customers.

Renowned throughout the industry as having a genuinely innovative approach to heating and plumbing, Altecnic has appointed Mr Heap not only to generate new business but also to further improve relationships between the company and plumbing merchants, contractors and installers.

Eager to generate extra interest in Altecnic's products among these customers, Mr Heap brings with him extensive experience of user support, having previously been an account manager for 13 years at Ariston Thermo, an Italian corporation that produces heating systems and related products.

Mr Heap said: 'I have been interested in plumbing and heating since I left school and I've been aware of Altecnic for many years as a market-leading name in top quality plumbing and heating fittings.

'Altecnic already has an excellent customer base but there is plenty more to go at, so I'm looking forward to increasing the company's market share and satisfying a wide range of new and existing customers.'

Altecnic's managing director, Alan Sherwin, added: 'We are so pleased to have Graham on board. He has so much experience and knowledge of the industry that we are confident he will make a big difference to how we work with existing customers and how we encourage others that Altecnic should be the automatic first choice when they are specifying heating and plumbing products.'