IoD Wales Member Spotlight – Monthly Feature
Each month, we’re shining a light on one of our inspiring IoD Wales members. This series celebrates leadership, shares insights, and showcases the diverse journeys of directors and decision-makers across Wales. Whether they’re leading innovative projects, driving positive change, or contributing to their communities and sectors, we’re proud to tell their stories.
Member Name: Keith Hayward
Job Title: Managing Director (retired)
Company Name: Glanua UK Ltd
1. Tell us a bit about yourself — what do you do, and what’s your journey been like as a business leader?
Until the end of December 2025, I ran a multi-faceted business – part of a leading Irish owned group – that works across the industrial water sector, facilitating the design, build, operation and maintenance of full water treatment plants for key clients such as Eli Lilly, Arla, and Greencore. The business comprised of a a manufacturing and fabrication factory, a specialist business unit in the Anaerobic Digestion space, full UK wide O&M capability and a complete design and build contracting arm. Glanua is a very effective solution provider to the industrial water segment, able to satisfy the total needs in terms of water treatment and re-use.
2. What achievement or milestone are you most proud of in your career so far?
Whilst it would be perhaps expected that I would quote a large contract win here, or a successful acquisition and integration, or a major promotion (all of which have occurred across the years); I genuinely feel that my biggest achievements are around developing teams and individuals and seeing them go further in their own careers. It has been a pleasure to have worked with some very talented people and to help them develop their skills and move into far more senior roles. I am particularly proud of the achievements of the team I have worked with and of the individuals themselves.
3. What advice would you give to other directors striving for excellence in leadership?
My feeling has always been that excellence in leadership is a continuous journey of improvement, which focuses on continuous progress rather than perfection. It often requires self- reflection to build awareness, and the habits you need to display daily have to be well thought out and intentional, so genuine trust can be built in the surrounding teams. Ethics are important too and should not be compromised in any way.
Excellence has always felt to me like a progressive process that focuses on improving with every opportunity – it isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ gambit. The reality is that perfection doesn’t exist, so there is always room for improvement and learning, whatever the project. The mistakes we make and the failures we go through are great gifts to teach us all how to do better; and a strong leader needs to be prepared to admit to his or her own failings as much as anyone else. Nobody gets everything right and it’s important to be strong enough to admit to that. I tend to focus on a few things: People, Process, Progress, Learning and Continuous Development; making excellence everyone’s job and looking for gradual ways of always doing better.
4. How has your involvement with the IoD supported your professional journey?
IoD membership has been invaluable. It has provided advice, support, training and debate, alongside access to a peer group that have been through many similar challenges and can support others when the needs arises. Access to a wider network, including meeting with legislators, regulatory bodies and Government has also been extremely valuable. The value of meeting with like-minded people should never be underestimated!
Check back next month as we continue to celebrate the outstanding leaders shaping the future of Welsh business.
