Chapco Group appoints chairman

Open-access content Monday 16th January 2012 — updated 2.38pm, Tuesday 5th May 2020

17 January 2012

Chapco Group has appointed Stuart Black as chairman.

Black, who has worked for Mouchel and Mears, is also chairman of construction support services business Lakehouse and APT Controls Group, a transportation and parking services business.

"We are delighted that Stuart will be joining the group, playing an important role working with the board of directors to consolidate the next stage of our development," said Chapco chief executive Richard Chapman.

The group provides facilities management, telecommunications, IT services, supply chain management and project delivery solutions to the retail, distribution and commercial sectors.

Black's background is in construction and property. For the past 20 years he has been involved in outsourcing and business process outsourcing across a range of sectors, including facilities management, project management and consultancy.

He was director of the Bucknall Group from 1986 to 1998 and was part of the management buy-out team that created Citex Group. He later moved to Mouchel where he was business development director until moving to Mears as its chief executive in 2004. He then took on a range of chairmanships including construction firm Strategic Team Group.

In February last year, Chapco announced the acquisition of Lauk Lighting, an independent provider of lighting solutions, products and services. This followed the August 2010 purchase of 24Seven, a national property and facilities management services company.

Both acquisitions were funded by Chapco's private equity partner Next Wave Partners, which invested £5 million into the business in July 2010 in return for a significant minority stake in the business.

Chapco was founded in 1976 as a provider of installation and property maintenance services to distribution and warehousing clients. The business now employs over 100 staff nationally.