Cable cleats firm Ellis Patents rings changes as chairman retires

Cable cleat manufacturer Ellis Patents has made a series of senior changes at board level following the retirement of founding chairman Chris Calvert.
Changes at the top – Ellis Patent’s outgoing chairman, Chris Calvert (centre), flanked by his replacement, Richard Shaw (r) and new managing director, Danny Macfarlane (l)Changes at the top – Ellis Patent’s outgoing chairman, Chris Calvert (centre), flanked by his replacement, Richard Shaw (r) and new managing director, Danny Macfarlane (l)
Changes at the top – Ellis Patent’s outgoing chairman, Chris Calvert (centre), flanked by his replacement, Richard Shaw (r) and new managing director, Danny Macfarlane (l)

Mr Calvert, along with a group of shareholders consisting of family, business and cricket-playing friends, bought Ellis Patents from former RAF bomber pilot Arthur Ellis on his retirement in 1987.

He will be replaced as chairman by current managing director Richard Shaw, who is stepping back from day-to-day involvement after 19-years at the helm.

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The new managing director will be Danny Macfarlane, who has been with the company since 2003. He has been technical manager, manufacturing manager, operations manager and most recently, operations director in that time.

During his 43-years with the company, Mr Calvert served as both managing director, from 1977 to 2001, and chairman, from 2001 to 2020.

He said: “I was born and grew up in the Yorkshire Dales and coming back to live and work in the county was one of my ambitions. Buying Ellis Patents in 1987 saw this ambition realised.

"At the time we bought a business with a broad base of regional electric customers and undertook the opportunity to design and develop new products for them; so to be retiring 33 years later, having achieved so much, shows what a wonderful move it was.

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“I was as impressed then as I am now by the strong work ethic at Ellis, and will always be grateful to all the people whom I have had the privilege to work with over many years. It has been a delight.

"There has always been a special working atmosphere at Ellis, and I am very thankful to all the people who have helped to create that, and to Richard and Danny for their excellent leadership. I can hang my boots up knowing that the company is in good hands.”

Ellis recently announced a £500,000 expansion of its premises, which means the footprint of its headquarters in Rillington, North Yorkshire has expanded from 7,000 to 50,000sq. ft.

Its cable cleats, which are used to secure large power cables in major new construction and retrofit projects, are exported to more than 40 different countries.

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Mr Shaw said: “My journey so far at Ellis has been unforgettable – and not just because of the success we’ve enjoyed. The business operates on a different model from others; we’re not driven by profit alone, but by high ethical standards and a philanthropic attitude."

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James Mitchinson