A COMPANY chairman quit the comfort of his semiretirement to help a leading firm of County Durham glassmakers recover from the devastating blow it suffered following the death of its inspirational chief executive.

John Kennair MBE had been enjoying a well-earned rest from the day-to-day rigours of management before he stepped into the breach to take temporary charge of Consett-based manufacturer Romag.

Mr Kennair, 66, Romag’s group chairman, admitted he struggled initially to get back into the swing of running the firm that, in June, was rocked by the loss of Lyn Miles, aged 57.

Under his experienced stewardship Romag is now reporting a strong order book valued at about £18m, with plans to expand its 150-strong workforce as it focuses on increasing the company’s share of the booming UK renewable energy market.

After overcoming delays to its supply chain and sales reported by the firm in August, Romag anticipates it will be able to report a modest profit for the year to September 30, before interest, tax and exceptional items that included Mr Kennair overseeing a £3.5m inventory write-down following a dramatic worldwide drop in prices.

His efforts have built on Mrs Miles’ highly-regarded tenure in charge when she headed the firm’s emergence as a major player in the world of photovoltaic solar panels.

She helped Romag grow from a traditional manufacturer of bullet and blast resistant glass to the creator of breakthrough products such as PowerGlaz solar glass and a solar-powered electric vehicle- charging system, helping boost the region’s reputation as a centre for renewables.

After weathering one of the most challenging periods in the firm’s history, Mr Kennair believes that Romag is wellpositioned to exploit the growing demand for its innovative products.

He told The Northern Echo: “Losing Lyn was devastating for the business. This is a highly-competitive market and without her expertise there was a risk of us losing focus.

“At my age you begin to look forward to easing off a bit – bear in mind I have been working since the age of 15 – but these were exceptional circumstances.

“It was clear to me that I needed to step in and play a more hands-on role after we lost Lyn. I worked alongside her for about 30 years and we were all left shell-shocked, both on a personal and professional level.

“It took me a few weeks to get to grips, but we are back on track and you can feel once again that there is a real optimism about the place.”

The company expects to appoint a permanent replacement to Mrs Miles in the new year.