Businessman bags Boots contract

Ivan McKeever, who was brought up on a traditional dairy farm near Claudy, has bagged the contract with high street giant, Boots. His company, Styles & Wood, a property design, fit-out, refurbishment and maintenance specialist, is set to transform the Foyleside Boots store as part of a comprehensive fit-out programme.

The retail win is part of a longstanding relationship between Styles & Wood and the high street pharmacy. In addition, it is the company's 100th major contract to be carried out for Boots and the 10th store his company has worked on in Northern Ireland. Styles & Wood will act as the main contractor, with local sub-contractors also involved in the project.

Ivan, who makes regular trips home to visit his family with his wife Kathryn, and three children, Erica (13), Keiran (12) and Finn (7), said: "We've forged a strong relationship with Boots over a number of years, opening a large number of stores across the UK. For me personally, this has to be the most satisfying contract that we've been awarded, as I grew up in the city and I'm extremely familiar with the Foyleside.

"After nearly two decades away from the city, I'm really excited to be bringing my business to my hometown to work on such an iconic store."

Under McKeever's leadership, Styles & Wood has established itself as the UK's biggest retail property specialist with 2009 turnover expected to reach 140 million.

Despite strong family ties and an enduring love of his native Northern Ireland, Ivan is the only one of six siblings to live further than 10 miles from home. He ventured from the family's 200 acre farm in 1991 and has since become one of Manchester's most highly regarded business leaders. During 2009, he executed the 45 million refinancing of Styles & Wood which was voted 'Turnaround Deal of the Year' by the corporate finance community.

Ivan has now set his sights firmly on developing an ambitious strategy for Styles & Wood to capitalise on his successes. Having previously led the company into the banking and food sectors, he's now planning to expand the company's portfolio even further by introducing its services in the office, public and leisure sectors, as well as taking the business to international shores.

He strongly believes that many of his achievements can be traced back to family life in Claudy and growing up in Londonderry in the 1970s and 80s.