After more than 20 years with ECOBAT Battery Technologies, Managing Director Steve Sheppard has stepped down from his position, six years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Steve joined the business – which was then Manbat – in 1999, as the company’s sales director, overseeing the opening of the Bristol branch and going on to help Roger and Mike Pemberton to transform the business from a regional distributor, into a major player in the battery distribution sector.
Over the last decade, Steve has been at the helm as the company has grown, both organically and through several acquisitions, and expanded into other complementary battery sectors, but always pursuing the original Manbat ethos of providing expert knowledge and work with its customers to grow their battery business.
Steve explained: “My greatest achievement has been to install a belief in the people, at all levels of the business, that we could become a major player, so they have shared in the ownership of the vision. This is what has made ECOBAT into a £70m+ business that distributes in excess of 1.6m batteries annually.
“Operating with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic during my last year with the company, will naturally stay with me. I have obviously been less involved as the transition to the new management has taken place, but I have watched the employees pull together in a fantastic manner to ensure that the company continues to provide a high level of service and performance, whilst having to adapt to new working practices, in order to keep each other safe.”
Compliments made by many of his colleagues describe Steve as ‘level headed, quick thinking, and calm under pressure’, and that he has had a tremendous impact, not only on the business, but with its personnel.
Commending Steve for his dedication and professionalism, Divisional Managing Director, Russell McBurnie, who takes over as MD said: “Steve knows everyone within our business and will afford time to anyone who needs it. A great people person, he has formed strong and lasting relationships, engaging staff, customers and suppliers alike. Steve’s contribution and dedication to ECOBAT has made it what it is today.”
General Manager Kevin Wood, who worked with Steve for more than 20 years added: “Steve has a great ability to make a connection with anyone he meets. His belief in our offering, service and staff have driven ECOBAT to be a national distributor and a major player within the industry.”
