The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Kirriemuir business leader heads for the top
J&D Wilkie has growth targets including US expansion
A prominent Angus businessman has been shortlisted for the prize of Scotland’s emerging entrepreneur of the year.
Jean-Christophe Granier, 33, is joint managing director of Kirriemuir-based textile manufacturer J&D Wilkie.
He said: “It is a huge privilege, and a surprise, to be nominated as an emerging entrepreneur finalist.
“The team and I see this nomination as a watershed moment – it recognises we have the right people, working hard in the right direction, to release the undeniable potential of our business and our sector.”
JC, as he is known, left a legal career to join J&D Wilkie in late 2012.
He has an ambition for J&D Wilkie encompassing US expansion, investment, acquisitions and manufacturing targets stretching to 2021.
Originally in the jute industry, the 148-year-old family business now manufactures high-performance textile technology for multiple sectors in international markets.
It has textile manufacturing and engineering operations in Scotland and China, and sites in England, India and Japan.
Last year J&D Wilkie invested £3 million in a new factory near Shanghai to consolidate and support growth in China.
The move strengthened the company’s position in Europe where its Scottish weaving unit has almost doubled since yarn production started in China.
In JC’s time J&D Wilkie’s turnover has risen by 18% and profitability by 121%. Last year the holding company with a workforce of 295 achieved revenue of £20.33m and a pre-tax profit of almost £950,000.
As a student JC imported wine to the UK from his grandfather’s vineyard in the south of France.
His father had a career in the oil and gas industry, and the influences fired JC’s entrepreneurial spirit.
His award category recognises individuals who are building organisations of outstanding potential.
The entrepreneur of the year prize is for leaders who have grown revenue and profits through innovation and teamwork. Previous winners have included high-profile entrepreneurs such as Sir Tom Hunter and Perthshire butcher Simon Howie.
The winners will be announced at the St Andrew’s Night dinner of Entrepreneurial Scotland, an organisation chaired by Dundee video games developer Chris van der Kuyl.
The awards are in association with professional services firm Deloitte.