CoolKit restructures board following record year

Burnley-based temperature-controlled vans specialist CoolKit has announced a new-look executive team while celebrating a year of record revenues.

The appointments, including a new managing director, follow CoolKit's turnover reaching £20.1m in 2022.

With company founder Rupert Gatty remaining as chief executive, finance director Daniel Miller has been promoted to managing director.

Daniel joined the business last year to oversee digital transformation and growth. He was previously the UK managing director for Finnish paper and energy technology supplier Valmet.

Mike Scappaticci has joined the business as head of fleet sales. For the last 25 years, he has worked within the Mercedes Benz commercial vehicle dealer network and headed up the e-Grocery side of the business for 12 years.

Matthew Kershaw has been appointed as head of operations. He joins after 14 years with SETCO Automotive UK, which designs turbochargers and worked directly with major OEMs including Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo on the development of their engines from initial design, through vehicle testing, to supply to the customer.

Matthew also holds a position as a director of the Northern Automotive Alliance, whom he assists by promoting and supporting the interests of the automotive industry across the Northern Powerhouse region.

The first target for CoolKit’s new team is to optimise production output to meet the increasing demand for its temperature-controlled van conversions and insulated box bodies, ready converted vans and portable refrigerators.

Rupert Gatty said: "Bringing in consummate professionals in their respective fields to the business is a crucial, transformational step change for CoolKit.

"By creating an experienced executive team, we are now firmly out of the blocks for 2023. I’ve never been more excited about the prospects for the business as we support our customers on their journey towards more sustainable fleets by choosing alternatively fuelled vehicles and more.

“Daniel has already brought in a great deal of positive change across the business, and it is my intention now to allow him to build on that by focussing on strategy implementation and innovation.”