This November, Cooks Midlands celebrates a significant milestone as Ryan Yorke marks his 25th anniversary with the dealership. 

Darren Cook, managing director of Cooks Midlands and Ryan Yorke

Over the past quarter of a century, Ryan has played a key role in shaping the company’s success. His dedication and expertise have earned him deep respect from colleagues and customers. 

Ryan is also Cooks Midlands' go-to expert when it comes to Merlo telehandlers. Over the years, he has built an extensive knowledge of the machines and is one of the few engineers in the UK with significant hands-on experience with the manufacturer's ROTO series. As a trained specialist, Ryan’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed - Merlo UK recently sent him a box of merchandise in recognition of his 25 years of outstanding support for their machines.

Reflecting on his time with Cooks Midlands, Ryan says he has witnessed the company evolve from a small business with just three employees into the thriving dealership it is today with 25 staff. “The biggest change I've seen is how we’ve grown over the years,” Ryan said. “When I first joined, it was a tight-knit team of just a few of us. Now, we’ve expanded so much, and it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come.”

In recognition of his commitment and long service, Cooks Midlands rcently thanked Ryan with the presentation of a limited edition Bremont timepiece.
 
Darren Cook, managing director of Cooks Midlands, summed up, saying “Ryan was our first employee, as my apprentice, and he has been with us through many changes - through the growth and challenges. He’s also been our go-to guy for anything Merlo. He’s more than just a key player; he’s part of the family, and I couldn’t imagine Cooks Midlands without him.”