Huddersfield, West Yorkshire – Checkmate Fire (“Checkmate” or “the Company”), a leading UK specialist in passive fire protection, is delighted to welcome Simon Finnie as its new Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), starting today. Simon succeeds John Lewthwaite, who will continue to support Checkmate’s strategic development and governance as a Non-Executive Director (“NED”).

Simon’s appointment marks the next phase in Checkmate’s growth journey and forms part of a planned and carefully managed succession process. The Company’s priorities, culture and long-term objectives remain centred on service excellence for its customers and on broadening its activities across fire and related markets. Simon brings a wealth of experience within the Facilities Management and Construction sectors, having previously held senior roles at BAM, Laing O’Rourke and Kier Group. With a proven track record of driving operational excellence and delivering significant value enhancement through strategy and M&A execution, Simon is well suited to lead Checkmate through the next phase of its journey.

Incumbent CEO John remains fully committed to Checkmate and will continue to support the Company in an NED capacity, providing strategic oversight and guidance. He will remain heavily involved in maintaining key customer and stakeholder relationships alongside Simon, thus ensuring continuity and ongoing commercial success for Checkmate. With John at the helm since 2020, the Company has undergone significant growth and transformation: evolving from a tier 2 subcontractor to a tier 1 contractor; expanding its capabilities; diversifying the service offering; and strengthening key client relationships. In parallel, the Company significantly invested in its people, developing the Leadership team and launching the “Checkmate Fire Training Academy” to enhance skills across the organisation and beyond.

Haydn Mursell, Chairman of Checkmate, said: “On behalf of the Board and all at Checkmate, I’d like to thank John for his exceptional leadership and the transformation he has driven over the past five years. His strategic vision, commitment to the development of his colleagues and focus on operational excellence have helped to establish Checkmate as a market leader with a strong foundation for future growth. We are delighted to appoint Simon as John’s successor and strongly believe that his industry expertise, coupled with his experience of leading technical services businesses and executing M&A, make him the ideal person to take Checkmate forward.”

John Lewthwaite, outgoing CEO of Checkmate, added: “The past five years have been some of the most exciting and rewarding years in my career so far, having successfully led Checkmate through the most transformative period in its history. I’m especially proud of the people I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside and who have contributed hugely to the success we’ve experienced. As the Company enters the next stage of its journey, I look forward to supporting Simon and the wider team in my new role on the Board and am excited to see what the next chapter holds.”

Simon Finnie, incoming CEO of Checkmate, commented: “I am delighted to be joining Checkmate at such an exciting point in its journey. The Company’s reputation for excellence in passive fire protection, alongside its strong focus on people, technology and enduring customer relationships, provide a strong foundation for future growth. I look forward to working closely with Haydn, John, the Checkmate team and IK Partners to build on this success.”

Contact

IK Partners

Vidya Verlkumar – Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: +44 (0) 7787 558 193
vidya.verlkumar@ikpartners.com