A MAN who has been Chief Executive Officer of the South Cumbria based Holker Group of Companies has announced that he is stepping down from the role after ten years at the helm.

Duncan Peake will leave in May to take on a new challenge in County Durham where he will join Raby Estates as CEO.

The Holker Group, which is owned by the Cavendish Family, operates a diverse range of businesses, including Burlington Stone, Kirkby-in-Furness, and Cartmel Racecourse, as well as the Holker Estate at Cark-in-Cartmel, employing some 250 people across the area.

Mr Peake has led the group through a period of significant change, creating a firm platform for the future. Planning permission for the extension of Burlington’s Kirkby operations has recently been achieved and growth across the group continues in the property, leisure, quarrying and estate sectors.

"It has been a privilege to lead the Holker Group through a challenging period and I am pleased to hand over the reins of a vibrant and forward looking business so that my successor can build on what the team here has achieved over the last few years," said Mr Peake. "It has been a pleasure for me to work with such an exceptional group of people and to have had the commitment and drive of the Cavendish family behind me."

Lucy Cavendish, chairman of the Holker Group, has paid tribute to the accomplishments made by the group under the leadership of Mr Peake, and said: “Duncan has brought strength and vision to the business, ensuring that we are well placed to take the business forward through continued investment in the local economy and the community around us. We thank Duncan for his contribution to Holker and wish him every success in his new role.’

A new appointment for the Holker Group will be made in due course and Mr Peake together with the board of directors are working closely to ensure a smooth transition.