Industry News

New Chief Marketing Officer Appointed as Duckhams Ramps Up Investment

Duckhams, the original British motor oil since 1899, is pleased to welcome a new Chief Marketing Officer as it continues its investment programme.

David McLean becomes the latest senior figure to join the iconic British lubricant brand. With over 30 years of commercial experience across the UK and global markets, David has a strong track record of blending data-driven insights with pragmatic action plans to deliver meaningful change. Having spent nine years at Castrol driving strategy within commercial roles and consumer insight, David developed a deep understanding of the UK and global automotive aftermarket.

“I am delighted to welcome David to our growing team,” Mike Bewsey, CEO of Duckhams, said. “During his career, David has worked with many high-profile global brands, including BP, Britvic, Heinz, and Miele, delivering double-digit growth and profitability while reducing SKU complexity and driving market expansion.

With expertise spanning FMCG, category management, sales and marketing strategies and consumer proposition development, I am sure David will play a pivotal role in delivering our ambitious growth strategy.”

Alexander Duckham established his oil company in 1899, and his entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit has been at the company’s heart ever since. Duckhams was responsible for developing revolutionary new process oils that controlled the build-up of carbon deposits in the 1920s and launched the first synchromesh gear oil in the 1930s. In 1951, Duckhams introduced Europe’s first multigrade oil, an innovation which transformed lubrication technology forever.

Earlier this year, Duckhams unveiled a new direct-to-market strategy for the UK and Ireland, backed by investment from successful entrepreneur and business leader Zuber Issa CBE. The company is rolling out new distributor partnerships for workshops and retail outlets, capitalising on the much-loved brand’s unique heritage and growth potential.

Duckhams delivers high-performance engine oils formulated to keep engines of all ages moving. Their passenger and commercial vehicle lubricants are available across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.