Nixon Hire has announced a forthcoming change in leadership, as part of the its continued evolution.
After ten years as Chief Executive Officer and 37 years at the company, Graham Nixon will transition to the role of Non-Executive Director on the main Board. He will be succeeded by current Chief Operating Officer, Brian Cornett, who takes up the position from 1 August 2025.
Graham took over the family business from his father John Nixon in 2005, and has been instrumental in reshaping Nixon Hire from a generalist hire company into a specialist partner focused on sustainable site solutions.
As part of this transition, the company sold its large plant business in 2024 and most recently announced the sale of its welfare van business in order to focus on sustainable site solutions.
Brian joined Nixon Hire in May 2024 and has worked closely with Graham since his arrival. He brings deep commercial and operational expertise, having previously served as UK Operations Director at Cross Rental Services and, before that, co-founder of Speedy Hire’s Power Division.
Since joining the business Brian has played a key role in advancing Nixon Hire’s vision, executing the transitional steps required to align the company with its strategy, strengthening its operational focus on customer needs and positioning it for long-term, sustainable growth.
The leadership change comes at a time of momentum for the business. The 2024 financial results for John Nixon Limited also announced recently record turnover increasing by 8.6% to £108.3 million (2023: £99.6 million) and operating profit increasing by 6.3% to £7.8 million (2023: £7.4 million).
“It’s been an incredible privilege to lead Nixon Hire and to build on the legacy my father began. The company has been a huge part of my life since I first started out in the depot at the age of 16, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come – especially the way we’ve adapted and evolved to reflect customer needs resulting in stronger growth over time," said outgoing CEO Graham Nixon.
While Brian Cornett (pictured) added: “Thanks to clear strategic direction, forward thinking and a shared belief in our vision, Nixon Hire is fast becoming the go-to partner for sustainable site solutions nationwide. We’re building something genuinely exciting for our customers and our people, and I’m honoured to step into the role of CEO to help carry that momentum forward. We have a hugely talented team, and I look forward to working closely with them as we enhance our capabilities, grow market share and deliver ever greater value for customers.”