One of the key characters in the UK audio visual industry is to retire after forty-five years – as the company announces record trading results for 2014.
Sales and marketing director Ed Everard joined York photographic business John Saville and Sons in 1970, at the age of seventeen. After many turbulent early experiences, he progressed to the firm’s professional audio visual department and alongside MD John Sills, helped to build the award-winning national network of Saville Audio Visual.
From a figure of £106k in 1970, his energy helped the company’s turnover grow to £16 million by the 1990s. He joined the board in 1986 and became part of a three-man management buyout team in 1996. During the subsequent decades, Ed’s mantra has been to consolidate the company’s brand and reputation as the UK’s leading audio visual supplier.
Asked about the timing of his decision, he said: “This seems like the right time for me, as we’re about to reveal record breaking trading results for 2014. The company’s turnover has passed a landmark £40 million, with profits well up on the previous year. I also want to make room for new talent to take up the mantle.”
He said: “Like many specialist high tech businesses, we were faced with serious challenges during the difficult financial climate seven years ago. I’m pleased to say we approached the problems with a positive attitude and managed to ride it out. Today we are continuing to invest in new technology and expand our business operations.”
Ed Everard retires after 45 years in the industry.
Throughout 2014, major installation contracts, coupled with increased conference and live events activities across the UK and overseas, formed the basis of an extremely satisfactory year’s trading for Saville. Another key element of this success has been an important, increased contribution from the company’s service division, delivering significant returns from its professional contract maintenance operations.
