THE chairman of one of the UK's largest forestry companies is to retire at the end of March. 

BSW Group's Tony Hackney has confirmed he will bring to a close a 30-year career in the timber sector, having led the organisation for more than a decade. 

After joining as chief executive in late 2008, he moved into the new role of chairman in 2023 during a period of major restructuring of BSW's senior management team. 

Tony said: “Leading BSW through challenging times has been a fantastic experience. I would like to thank all of my colleagues and friends across the UK, Latvia and Slovenia for their extraordinary efforts in developing BSW during my period of stewardship.

"I have valued very highly the relationships with our loyal customers and suppliers and again thank them for their support. I wish you all every success in the future." 

Under Tony’s leadership, BSW has undergone a period of "unprecedented growth and acquisition", with turnover increasing from approximately £100 million annually to over £900m.

Strategic acquisitions have included Maelor Forest Nurseries, Tilhill Forestry, Dick Brothers Harvesting, SCA UK (now BSW Timber Solutions), Bayram Timber and Scott Pallets, as well as a joint venture with Power Sheds.

A hugely respected figure across the entire timber supply chain, Tony's efforts were also recognised formally in 2012, when he was named Ernst & Young Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year before appearing at the UK Entrepreneur of the Year final.

He later led the management buyout team, supported by Endless LLP, that ultimately resulted in the landmark sale to Binderholz in 2021.

He added: “I am very proud of the progress we have made, which has assisted in bringing the company to the strong position it is in now. It presents a good moment for me to choose to retire from BSW to pursue my own business interests and spend more time with my family.”

A BSW statement added: "Tony’s vision and determination, combined with his strong leadership skills, propelled BSW into its position of market leader.

"We would all like to wholeheartedly thank Tony for his leadership and contribution to our business, and we wish him our very best for the future."