After 25 years in the heating industry, Dick Horsfall, brand director for Purmo radiators has retired and admits the sector is a far tougher market nowadays than it was when he first entered it.
Horsfall joined Rettig in 1994 as UK managing director and managed the launch in 1995 of the Rettig compact radiator. To date, it is the best selling compact radiator in the world with annual sales of 3.5m units.

In 1998, Horsfall was appointed the global managing director of Purmo, and member of the management board, which dealt with the acquisition of Blue Circle heating interests in 2000, and Vogel & Noot in 2001.

Since 1997, Rettig's turnover has grown from 150m Euros to 720m Euros, as a result of the company says 'a mixture of organic growth and acquisition'.

The Purmo brand has grown from 60m Euros to 190m Euros in the same period with new operations opening in China, Russia, Romania, Hungary and expanded direct exports to numerous smaller countries.The introduction of underfloor heating, decorative radiators and towel warmers also aided growth.

Horsfall's role as brand director will be taken up by Tomasz Tarabura.

Prior to joining Rettig, Dick was general manager of Selkirk, the leading producer of prefabricated flues and chimneys. During his time heading up the marketing of Selkirk Europe, annual sales increased from £10m to £35m.

Horsfall said 'I've seen Purmo grow dramatically during the past 12 years and steered it through a number of significant transition periods'.
'The heating industry has transformed in recent years, becoming more competitive and a far tougher market to survive in.

'The Rettig group has embraced the current climate, recognising that to get ahead, it needed to increase flexibility in production methods and offer a superior product range.
'I'm retiring at an exciting time.'