J S Wright appoints new Managing Director

Phil Leech (left), with J S Wright Chairman designate Marcus Aniol

Birmingham-based mechanical and electrical building services provider J S Wright is to have a new Managing Director following Marcus Aniol’s move to the role of Chairman.

Phil Leech, currently National Mechanical Contracts Director, will take over control of the day-to-day running of the 129-year-old company, which also has offices in London and Bristol, from May 1.

Based at the company’s Aston headquarters, Phil will hand over mechanical contract responsibilities to Associate Directors Matt Coy and John Heggs.

Marcus Aniol, who has been Managing Director of J S Wright since 2006 and led a management buyout in 2017 following the retirement of its previous owners, has said that he intends to take on a more strategic role in the future of the company.

With almost 30 years of experience in building services, Phil Leech joined J S Wright in 2006 as a contracts manager. He began his career as a contracts engineer with another building services company in Birmingham after completing his apprenticeship there in 1988.

Phil’s distinguished career with J S Wright has included introducing a new contract management reporting system and negotiating the company’s first £10million contract to install the mechanical services for Mint Hotel Tower of London. He also negotiated the company’s biggest contract to date, valued at £27million, for the installation of mechanical and electrical services for Keybridge, a new luxury landmark residential development in London.

Phil said: “I aim to continue our Board’s mission of achieving continuous growth and improvement as we look to grow our £50million business.

“With a growing workforce of over 190 employees, spread over three offices in Birmingham, Bristol and London, my biggest challenge will be to ensure that we retain the personal touch that has been our hallmark.”

Marcus Aniol said: “The J S Wright Board has been planning this ordered change in leadership ever since our management buyout. I am delighted to be able to hand over the reins to someone whose leadership qualities and integrity are second to none, while retaining a strategic role as chairman.”

Established in Birmingham in 1890, J S Wright designs, installs and maintains mechanical and electrical services for the hotel, residential, social housing, student accommodation, leisure and commercial sectors. The company recently launched a new residential maintenance company, Wright Maintenance Ltd, serving property managers and homeowners across London.

J S Wright was voted one of the UK’s Top Ten Specialist Contractors to Work For in the 2016 Construction Enquirer Awards and was a finalist in three categories in the 2018 H&V News Awards.