He joined Firstan as chief financial officer on 1 July to enable managing director Andrew Hartwig to take a step back from day-to-day operations.
“Andrew and his younger brother Paul have run the business very successfully for a number of years, and ultimately Andrew wants to step back to some extent, but by no means fully, and they just wanted someone to assist them as the business looks to the future,” said Kerridge.
He added that Firstan was an exciting business to join as it was well invested in recent years in terms of kit and its relatively new 9,300sqm factory.
Andrew Hartwig said: “Following on from the successful growth of the last 10 years, this appointment will allow us to focus on our plans for growth over the next 10 years.
“We will continue to invest in our people, plant and equipment to support the needs of our markets and customers. Our aim is for Firstan to strengthen its position as the UK’s leading independent carton manufacturer for decades to come.”
According it to its most recent accounts, to 31 December 2019, the business, in Godmanchester near Huntingdon, had sales of £22.4m with a pre-tax profit of £1.7m.
The account’s strategic report said that trading had "remained buoyant" through the pandemic, with a "significant increase in sales".
The business has remained in production throughout lockdown, and like many of its packaging peers that serve the retail and pharma sectors has not had to use the government’s furlough scheme for its 150-strong workforce.
The business is expecting to achieve turnover in excess of £26m this year.
Kerridge spent 12 years at Benson Box, leaving in 2014, 10 months after he sold the UK food and healthcare packaging firm to Graphic Packaging for £100m.
During his Benson Box tenure, he was instrumental in its growth from £10m sales to £120m, which included five acquisitions, £50m of organic growth, a £25m capex spend and the MBO he led with then commercial director Nick Benson in 2011.
After leaving, he subsequently took on several non-exec roles, some of which he will retain due to the flexibility of his executive role at Firstan.
“It’s very much a supportive role, rather than a full-time role,” said Kerridge.
