An award-winning textile manufacturer has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer to position the business for the next phase of its global growth and development.

Camira Group Ltd, with offices in Mirfield and manufacturing in Meltham, has appointed Grant Russell to the top job in succession to Steve Bullas who becomes group chairman.

Mr Russell, who has enjoyed a successful career spanning nearly 30 years with speciality coatings and chemicals manufacturer AkzoNobel, joins Camira after most recently heading AkzoNobel’s wood finishes and adhesives business – growing annual sales to about £600m.

His appointment is part of the textile group’s long-term succession planning and global business development strategy, which is targeting £100m turnover by 2020.

Camira manufactures and distributes 8m metres of contract fabrics a year which are sold in about 80 countries worldwide. Its main markets are commercial office interiors, education, healthcare, and public transport, with customers including the BBC, HSBC, PWC, Google and Transport for London.

The firm has more than 500,000sq ft of manufacturing at four sites in Huddersfield, a technical knitting plant in Nottingham and overseas manufacturing in Lithuania. Warehousing and distribution is located in North America, China, and Australia, with a wide network of international sales offices, agents and distributors.

Camira saw turnover reach a record £68m in 2014 and earlier this year, received a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development – its second in this category and fourth in total.

Mr Russell said: “This is a great business which has made textile design and manufacture innovative, exciting and relevant to the 21st century global business model.

“I’m thrilled to be joining such a dynamic organisation and leading the business on the next stage of its global development as we consolidate our position in core European markets and ramp up our expansion in North America and Asia Pacific.”

Mr Bullas said Mr Russell had proven executive leadership expertise at the very highest level with a multi-national blue-chip organisation and would be instrumental in delivering Camira’s ambitious growth plans.