15 March 2021

idverde UK announces the appointment of new CEO

idverde, the UK’s leading grounds maintenance and landscape creation specialists, announced today that Doug Graham will step down as CEO of the UK company. He will be succeeded by Chris Pullen, an experienced leader who has worked in senior roles across the support services sector, including Staffline and IWG.

Doug has led idverde through a strong growth phase, having joined the business in 2008 as Chief Financial Officer and as CEO since 2017.  He played a key role in the company’s development from what was then a £38m turnover organisation with 700 colleagues, to today where it has a turnover of £240m and nearly 4,000 colleagues across the UK.

“In Spring 2020 Doug Graham took a personal decision to stand down from his position of CEO at idverde UK during 2021. Doug led the business through a significant growth period and played a key part within the wider idverde Group that has grown from €250m turnover and 3,000 colleagues in 2014 to €850m turnover and 9,000 colleagues in 2020. We would like to thank Doug for his significant contribution to the business and we wish him well for the future,” said Hervé Lancon, idverde President.

Doug Graham commented, “I have been proud to work for idverde for the past 13 years and privileged in the last 4 years to lead idverde UK as CEO. I would like to congratulate idverde colleagues for the great work they do for our clients across the UK and Europe and thank everyone for supporting me. I am pleased to welcome Chris to idverde and look forward to supporting his introduction to the business.”

Reporting directly to Hervé Lancon, Group CEO, Chris Pullen joined idverde on March 10, 2021. Once an initial handover period is completed with Doug, Chris will officially take up the role of CEO for idverde UK on March 29, 2021. Chris joins idverde with a wealth of experience in the support services sector, most recently at Staffline Plc, one of the largest recruitment companies in the UK, where he was CEO and previously Group Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Staffline, Chris was Global Managing Director for IWG Plc. He started his career as an army officer in the Coldstream Guards.

“I am excited to welcome Chris to the idverde family,” Hervé Lancon said. “His experience in the UK and internationally will be invaluable as we continue to develop our strategy of growth and excellence in delivery.”

Chris Pullen added, “idverde has been a great success story across Europe and having watched the company grow in the UK and beyond, I am delighted to have joined the team, and I am looking forward to meeting new colleagues and leading the next chapter of idverde. The opportunities across our core sectors and in new arenas are strong and our skills base is unparalleled within the market, and I am excited about being part of the development of this great business.”

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