01.05.2015

David Scott retires from TH White

David Scott, the chief executive of TH White - the Palfinger crane distributor for England and Wales, and a regional Manitou dealer - has retired.

Scott joined the company as a trainee on the 20th April 1976, his 26th birthday, having spent eight years gaining experience by working outside of the family run business, which was then run by his father. He was appointed managing director in 1984, taking on the chief executive title in 1989.

When he joined the business the Devises-based company was largely an agricultural dealer, handling Ford tractors and New Holland harvesting equipment, although it also owned the Auto-Mower sport field roller manufacturing company, and had already started a farm installation division, while handling HAP loader cranes.

During his tenure David Scott has presided over a more than six-fold increase in revenues, and seen the company become the market leader in loader crane sales with the Palfinger product line. He also expanded the existing business into new areas, including grass care equipment and renewable energy, while becoming a significant car dealer for Land Rover and Fiat opening the UK’s first Fiat Group Brand Centre in Swindon. Its eco-friendly features won it the Motor Trader Green Dealer of the Year Award.
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David Scott at his retirement party

T H White was founded in 1832 as an agricultural ironmonger trading from Sidmouth Street, Devizes. It is still based in Devises, but has outlets across the West Country, the Home Counties, the Midlands and Yorkshire. It has been voted Wiltshire Business of the Year and is recognised for its apprenticeship schemes.

Speaking at a staff reception in Devizes to mark his retirement on Monday, Scott said: “What has given me most pleasure over the years has been watching people develop their careers within the company. A successful business relies on the efforts and hard work of every person in it and the credit for what has been achieved rests with all of you.”

A second reception was held on Tuesday at the Corn Exchange in Devizes for several hundred. Speaking at that event, Wolfgang Pilz, chief marketing officer for Palfinger cranes presented Scott with a handmade Palfinger table to commemorate his achievements.

Scott’s son Alexander takes over as managing director.
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The event for customers and suppliers at the Corn Exchange in Devizes