Hull family business JR Rix & Sons has a new managing director at the helm.
James Doyle, who has been with the diversified company since 2007, takes over from Rory Clarke who has spent the past six years in the top role. During his tenure, Mr Clarke has presided over the biggest period of expansion and diversification in the company’s 150 year history. He will remain as a non-executive director of the business to continue supporting the board, and to assist the next generation of the Rix family on their ongoing integration.
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Tim Rix CBE, chairman and chief executive, said: “Rory’s story at Rix is a truly inspirational one. He arrived to establish a proper credit control department in 1991 – a gigantic job which was not for the faint-hearted. He took on the challenge and thrived which led to his involvement in just about every aspect of the Rix organisation, making sure we got paid.”
In 2003, Mr Clarke was appointed as managing director of Rix Petroleum which he grew from a local supplier into a national business with depots from Grangemouth to the Thames, and from Norfolk across to Cheshire.
As managing director of JR. Rix & Sons, he has been instrumental in transforming the group from a traditional family business into a diverse company involved in fuel deliveries, shipping, renewable energy, manufacturing holiday homes, and with a significant property portfolio - including its new head office at Humber Quays.
Mr Rix added that the Rix business is all about the people who work in it. “Rory’s story shows how it is possible to rise through the ranks and excel at the highest level,” he said.
Mr Doyle initially joined the business as managing director of Rix Shipping in 2007. In 2019, he became chief executive of Victory Leisure Homes and has worked closely with the board in managing and developing all aspects of the wider group. Growth at both Victory's Gilberdyke and the recently added Hull site has been significant.
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He said: “It is a source of huge personal pride to be taking over the role of managing director at JR Rix Sons. I have worked alongside Rory for many years and I have to say, his are going to be very big shoes to fill. I’m taking over the managing director’s role at a highly prosperous point in the company’s history, and much of that is due to Rory’s tremendous contribution over the past 32 years.”
The company has just posted record results, on the back of spiking oil prices and strong growth in the holiday home sector. It turned over £756.1 million in 2022,
Mr Clarke said he was sad to be stepping down as managing director, but was confident the business remained in very safe hands. “James has been actively involved in the management of the business at group level for a number of years, and is the perfect choice to succeed me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to supporting him and the wider board in my new role of non-executive director.”