Xeros sets out intentions as it makes two appointments at director level

The Rotherham-based environmentally friendly cleaning company, which was a spin-out from the University of Leeds, has appointed Jocelyn Stuart-Grumbar as international development director and Andy Hewitt as commercial director.

The pair are former long-standing senior employees with technology company Dyson and major consumer product group Procter & Gamble respectively.

Xeros cleans clothes using nylon polymer beads that attract dirt when they are ‘tumbled’ with clothes in one of its machines.

Mr Stuart-Grumbar was most recently international customer director with Dyson, based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Mr Hewitt was group sales and marketing director with cycling and outdoor goods distributor Zyro, based in Thirsk and Rotherham.

Mr Stuart-Grumbar said: “I love the fact that this is a small business, with a great idea and intelligent, highly-motivated people. Our technology is already launched in the UK and US, and my exciting remit is to try and identify which of the many potential additional markets would be best-suited to the Xeros system and ensure we get our message out there.

“There’s huge interest already from laundry companies yearning for the holy grail of great cleaning and fabric care, with better cost control and less waste and environmental impact.”

Mr Hewitt said: “This is such an exciting technology, that had years of development before being launched in the UK and US markets. The challenge of establishing a genuinely revolutionary new system is one many people desire but few experience and that, coupled with pace, have made joining Xeros an easy decision. The opportunities ahead are vast and my current focus is the UK commercial laundry market, before we look to expand globally.”

Bill Westwater, chief executive officer, Xeros, said: “We’re delighted to have such experienced, successful and high-level practitioners in their fields on board.”