James Davenport, Managing Director of Metsä Wood UK, has been appointed as the Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) Expert for Softwoods and Engineered Timber.

The BMBI, a brand of the Builders Merchant Federation (BMF), and run by MRA Research using sales-out data from GfK’s general builders’ merchant panel, is the only reliable measure of Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) building activity in the UK. It brings authoritative insight into market trends, while giving leading brands the opportunity to represent and speak for their category.

Davenport brings more than 20 years’ experience in the UK timber industry to the role. Having begun his career as a trainee with Metsä (then Finnforest), he has held senior positions across purchasing, manufacturing, sales, and supply chain management. This breadth of expertise gives him a deep, end-to-end understanding of the timber market. Today, he leads Metsä Wood UK as Managing Director, while also serving on Metsä Wood’s Executive Management Team and as a board member of Timber Development UK.

Metsä Wood UK is one of the country’s leading importers and distributors of high-quality softwood, supplying both national and independent merchants as well as the DIY sector. With processing lines in Boston and a treatment facility in King’s Lynn, the company upgrades Nordic softwood and manufactures products such as Finnjoist® I-beams, widely used in housing and commercial construction. Metsä Wood UK continues to focus on strengthening merchant partnerships and delivering sustainable timber solutions from responsibly managed Nordic forests.

Speaking about his appointment, Davenport said:
“I’m delighted to join the BMBI Expert Panel. Softwoods and Engineered Timber play a vital role in UK construction, and the BMBI provides an excellent platform to share insight, raise awareness, and support greater understanding of our market.”

Follow the BMBI to stay updated with the most accurate and up-to-date UK RMI market trends. For expert commentary from James Davenport, and the Expert Panel, check out the latest BMBI Q2 report at www.bmbi.co.uk or contact MRA Research (https://mra-research.co.uk/) for more information.