Argon & Co names Ben Wright as new UK managing partner
Richard Powell has handed over the leadership of Argon & Co’s UK business. Ben Wright will step into his shoes, having been a partner with the firm since 2020.
Powell, a founding partner of the business, commented, “After an incredible 20-year journey as the co-founder and managing partner of Argon & Co in the UK, I am delighted to announce this change in leadership. The company has grown to a prominent position in the industry, trebling in size over the last five years with a constant focus on quality, culture and hiring and developing amazing people. Now, as we live in an environment of constant change, it’s the perfect time for me to focus on our fast-growing operations strategy and transformation area, working with our wonderful clients as they seek to operationalise their business strategies.”
Having spent two decades at the helm of the business, Powell recently led the introduction of the strategy and transformation practice area within the UK business. Looking ahead, he will remain with Argon & Co, leading the firm’s strategy and transformation team, helping it respond to the significant client growth in the area brought about by digitalisation, global supply chain challenges, new resource models and rapidly changing local market behaviours.
Succeeding him, Ben Wright has been with the business for four years. He brings with him a wealth of business management and people leadership experience, good relations across the Argon & Co global community and strong links into a number of key client accounts.
Prior to arriving at Argon & Co, Wright also held senior management positions in a number of logistics oriented firms. Most recently, he was head of retail for Total Logistics, while previously he spent three years as a director in Accenture’s supply chain practice.
Speaking on his promotion, Wright said becoming managing partner of Argon & Co UK was “an honour”. He is keen to continue “the legacy that Richard [Powell] and the team have built”, and while the firm aims to grow in the coming period, Wright is also committed “to preserving the core values and principles that have made Argon & Co a trusted name in the industry.”
He added, “Beyond our UK operations, we’re part of the global Argon & Co Group, which means that our clients can tap into both local and global best practice, knowledge and experience. We have exciting growth plans in the pipeline, and I look forward to leading our dedicated team into this next chapter, further strengthening our position in the UK market as we address the local and global challenges faced by the clients we serve.”
Following its 2018 merger with Argon & Co, the firm formerly known as Crimson & Co rebranded to match its global parent company in 2020. In the years since, it has used the backing of its global partner to expand its UK capabilities through mergers of its own – including the 2021 purchase of Ayming’s UK procurement consulting team.
Argon & Co was recently given a platinum rating for its procurement and supply chain offerings in the 2023 Consultancy.UK industry rankings.
