National sales manager Jim Bratt will retire later this month after nearly 30 years with the company.

Mr Bratt joined Henkel after leaving the army in 1988, taking up the role of a junior rep on builders merchants in the North East, before being promoted to sales rep. He has won a number of accolades, including Henkel UK salesperson of the Year.

Mr Bratt has held a number of roles over the years and, in 2014 was promoted to head up the trade and DIY independents channel. He also took control of Henkel’s account with wholesaler Decco and built a “fantastic relationship with all concerned in this account”.

He has seen a lot change during his time at Henkel, including four acquisitions, and has worked under as many as seven different managers. Name-checking those who he feels made a difference to his career, he told DIY Week: “I have worked with some great managers over the years - Guy Malam, Dale Poulton, Mark Portman and my first manager, Keith Greenwood, who gave me the opportunity for a new career.”

Upon retirement Mr Bratt plans to spend more time indulging his hobbies, including road cycling and spending time on his 60ft narrow boat, Violet Clare2, which he and partner Jan moved onto in October 2015, selling their house.

He said of his plans: “We have lived on her for 18 months now and enjoying many weekends cruising the canals. Once in retirement, we plan to cruise all the canals in the UK a total of 2,500 miles at only four miles per hour, stopping off when we like.”

It will be a change of pace for Mr Bratt, who estimates he has travelled a total of 1.2million miles over his career and driven 14 company cars.

Henkel’s Jon Robinson said of Mr Bratt’s departure: ‘’Jim has made a great contribution to the DIY business over the years with some quite remarkable performances. He has been a major asset to both Henkel and his customers who I am sure would join us in wishing Jim, and his partner Jan, the very best for the future’’