John Eastwood
In the midst of an investment a growth phase, New Zealand prefabricator XLam is expanding its senior management team with the appointment of John Eastwood as the head of business development for Australia and New Zealand. XLam is Australasia’s only manufacturer of CLT. Sources: Timberbiz, National Business Review
Mr Eastwood has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Unitec and has spent most of his career in the building materials, manufacturing and construction sectors. He joined XLam in a business development role at the beginning of 2018.
He has previously held country manager and senior commercial management roles with a number of multinational and national building material manufacturers and suppliers to commercial and residential construction sectors. He is experience in strategy articulation, operational implementation and leadership of rapid growth and diversification initiatives and acquisition and merger integrations.
Mr Eastwood said he was excited to be taking on an important business development and leadership role at a tipping point for XLam and CLT.
“The demand for CLT in Australasia has grown to a point that we opened a second plant earlier this year to support our plant in Nelson (NZ).
“The new plant in Australia makes XLam a true Australasian business and has necessitated my role – the drive for improved productivitiy and quality in the construction sector is driving demand for offsite manufacturing and the technical expertise and advice that is required to ensure its successful delivery.”
XLam chief executive Gary Caulfield said that the company was fortunate to have Mr Eastwood in a top role.
“John has become familiar with XLam from the inside over the past seven months, and we are pleased to have him now in one of the most important roles in the business,” he said.
There are few people who can match John for depth of experience and knowledge of the construction, manufacturing and building materials industries, and our clients – and future clients – will benefit enormously from his expertise.”
