BSW chairman takes over as TTF president

Martin Gale has become the first representative of the domestic sawmilling industry to become president of The Timber Trade Federation (TTF).

Mr Gale, who was officially handed the reins from outgoing president Kevin Hayes at the TTF’s AGM last week, is chairman of the UK’s largest sawmilling group – BSW Timber.

“I do not want you to think that will colour my agenda at all,” he assured members, saying he would work to further the interests of the entire timber sector.

“I am passionate about wood and I will be pushing the use of wood very strongly.”

Mr Gale said he would work to help expand the size of the industry’s pie.

He also said he had become president at a time when the TTF was on a high, with growing membership and “unstoppable enthusiasm”.

“The opinion-formers value and listen to the work of the TTF, he said.

Federation chief executive John White paid tribute to outgoing president Kevin Hayes, saying he had never failed to give the TTF his full attention despite also running his own business. Mr Hayes will receive a table tennis table as a gift in recognition for his service.