Chris Yates of Kent’s FFX wins CEO of the Year

Published by

Sam Pither

Chris Yates, the CEO of Folkestone Fixings Ltd, a Kent-based distributor of power tools, hand tools, fixings and construction materials, has won The Business Magazine’s CEO of the Year award.

The award, sponsored by BDO, CMA Recruitment Group, HSBC, Irwin Mitchell and Zeus, recognises the CEO of a company who has made a significant contribution to the local economy.

He said: “This award really reflects the efforts of the entire team at FFX. It’s been a pleasure to lead them to achieve so much. As leaders, we owe it to ourselves to help others because you don't always know what skills your business will need next.

“Our company has tripled in size over the last 10 years and we have the same people in the same jobs but doing more, so we have invested in management development as well as training and coaching our people to be successful.’

Chris Yates and FFX ware chosen following an exhaustive analysis of the top 250 privately owned companies in the Surrey, Kent and Sussex regions, known as the SKS250.

Richard Thompson, Managing Director of The Business Magazine, said: “It’s great to see so many successful and growing companies represented in the awards – a reflection of the vibrant region that we live and work in.”

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.