We’re excited to welcome Kenny Gardner to Rosewood Bespoke Joinery as our new Business Development Director. Kenny brings decades of experience in the construction and joinery industry, and we sat down with him to learn more about his journey, his approach, and what excites him about joining us.
Q: Kenny, tell us a bit about your background. How did you get started in the industry?
I’m a joiner by trade – that’s where it all began. I served my time and then started working for FB McKee back in 1982. It was a family-owned business at the time, and I stayed there until 1993. After that, I ran my own business for a number of years as a self-employed joinery contractor.
Q: You’ve worked with some big names over the years. What stands out from your time at H&J Martin and GRAHAM?
I joined H&J Martin in 1998 thanks to Mike Norton – a long-time friend who convinced me to come on board. I started in the construction division and later moved into fit out. One of my first major projects was a year-long contract at the City Hospital.
From there, I worked on some exciting retail projects – the first TK Maxx in Ireland, Oasis stores, Primark, and even a Tiffany store in Brown Thomas, which involved being interviewed by Tiffany in London.
Later, at GRAHAM, I helped build the Interior Fit Out arm of the business from zero to a really healthy turnover. I put in place operational strategies that are still serving the company well today. My role as Operations Director was all about consistency – making sure we had the same strategy across the board while driving delivery, business development and improvement.
Q: And more recently, you were at Woodland Kitchens?
Yes, I left GRAHAM at the start of 2020 – just before the pandemic changed everything. After a few months on gardening leave, I joined Woodland Kitchens, another family-based organisation. It was a challenging time through the Pandemic, but we focused on making things consistent between the factory and the site. Over five years, we saw strong growth throughout the business.
Q: Outside of work, what keeps you busy?
My passion is Motorcycling and in particular Motocross having been a competitor in my younger years I now act as an official working as an official for the local federation here in Northern Ireland as well as the FIM – the World Governing Body for Motorcycling – on the Motocross Commission. It’s something I’ve been doing for close on 40 years locally with being asked to the FIM role at the start of 2022. It’s all on a voluntary basis and something I really enjoy.
Q: So, why Rosewood Bespoke Joinery? What attracted you to this role?
Rosewood is a relatively new company with big ambitions, and I felt I could help build it in line with where it wants to be. With my experience as both a main contractor and a subcontractor, I know there’s a real need for businesses like Rosewood Bespoke Joinery to deliver high-quality, value-for-money products across the UK and Ireland.
Q: What trends do you see shaping the industry in 2026?
In recent years and in some sectors there’s been a shift away from quality towards commercial considerations – people are buying products that don’t necessarily meet the standards you’d expect. At Rosewood Bespoke Joinery, we want to strike the right balance between quality and cost.
Q: Finally, what’s your approach to business development?
For me, it’s all about relationships – building trust and delivering on promises. I’ve always said, “I’m not just here to sell; we’re here to deliver.” My mantra is simple: make the promises and keep them too.
