Company founder sells shares

The man who founded and spearheaded the expansion of the GSE Group has sold his shares after a management buyout.

The family-run firm in Ashford has seen managing director Tony Bowles and group director Josh Healey buy up the shares of group chairman, and chair of GSE Developments, Darrell Healey, in the building, civil engineering and plant hire divisions of the company.

Darrell Healey, who will remain as a non-executive director, and continue to head up the group’s property and developing division, founded the firm in 1986.

The firm owns Waterbrook Park, a 140-acre site close to Junction 10, which has planning permission for 400 new homes and commercial facilities.

It is also home to the Ashford International Truckstop where work is currently under way to expand its capacity from 300 to 600 HGVs.

Announcing the move, Darrell Healey explained: “GSE Group has continued to grow through some of the most challenging times the sector has ever faced.

“Waterbrook has taken many years of hard work and determination to get over the line.

“With work having started on the site, I feel the time is right to let Tony and Josh take the business forward.”