KEY SKILLS

• Change Management - identified the need for change, the changes necessary and actions necessary to bring about change.
• Team Management/Leadership - focused on morale boosting, motivation skills, staff participation target setting, direction, increased awareness and individual involvement.
• Communication skills - with individuals where English was the second language, management presentations and technical data/info given to non-specialised personnel.
• Problem solving skills - challenging the norm through solution generating to solution generation with decisive decision making for the application in mind.
• Strong technical support - given to Sales bringing enhanced customer service and benefits.

CAREER HISTORY

HollandColours Division Europe

Manufacturer of specialised pigment preparations serving the Building /Construction, PET packaging, Elastomers and Specialties markets.

APPLICATIONS LABORATORY MANAGER ( INTERIM MANAGEMENT ROLE )

Sept 2005 - Oct 2007

Responsible for the management of both the Applications Laboratory and Quality Control

Achievements

• Recruited to bring about a change in the attitudes of the Dutch Laboratory personnel, which had a reputation of being a difficult group to manage. A stable situation was achieved over a period of 6 months with significant increased morale and motivation.
• Performance management reviews undertaken throughout the year covering personnel appraisals and reviews with increased individual competence ratings of at least 2/3 points.
• Facilitate staff participation in multi discipline discussions bringing about willingness, openness, understanding and non confrontational attitudes.
• Challenged existing practise within the operational structure to analyse critically current procedures and test methods - a reduction of 20 test methods was achieved in the 3 months.
• Internal working structure changes implemented within 2 months to reflect the current workload.
• Departmental work load targets and objectives set within 3 months in line with Sales expectations.
• An environment of the customer gets priority by raising the commercial awareness within the Laboratory's operational activity - achieved by Lab personnel interaction with specific targeted customers - implemented within 2 months.
• Achieved in 4 months a reduction in the number of processes for Customer Technical requests from 80 to just 8 by a process of using LEAN/ Continuous improvement techniques.

Storeys Industrial Products

Manufacturer of industrial vinyl sheeting

TECHNICAL/QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER (Redundant)

Feb 2003 - Jun 2005

Responsible for the managing a team of 8 Technical and 4 Quality Assurance Technicians

Achievements

· Successfully implemented the Quality Standard ISO 9001:2000 over a 12 month period.

· Integrated both the Technical and Quality Control departments within a 2 month period.

· Developed a series of Continuous Improvement initiatives which brought about process cost savings of £30K in 6 months.

· Successfully managed integration and transfer of acquired formulation knowledge within 6 months on 6 key accounts.

EARLIER CAREER

Weston Vinyls Limited

Manufacturer of industrial vinyl sheeting

HEAD OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT (Redundant)

Jul 2001 - Oct 2002

Responsibility for the Technical Department and New Product Development

Achievements

· Identified a clear strategy of target customers to focus the resource for development and support in a 3 month period.

· Facilitated the sourcing of 4 key raw material suppliers involving negotiating supply contracts leading to savings of £50k/year.

Kay Premium Marking Films

Manufacturer of specialist Graphic and Signage films

TECHNICAL/HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGER

Nov 1997 - Jun 2001

Responsible for the management of a team of 4 Chemists and 3 Production personnel together with Health and Safety policy

Achievements

· Implemented a Health and Safety policy within 6 months.

• Reduced the number of colour strikes by 50% enabling an improvement in machine utilisation of 3% over a 12 month period.
• Facilitated the transfer of skills between the Laboratory and Mixing room personnel achieving a reduction in waiting time of 15% for colour approval.

Weston Vinyls

Manufacturers of industrial vinyl sheeting

OPERATIONS GROUP MANAGER

Aug 1994 - Oct1997

Responsible for managing Production, Technical, Engineering and Purchasing personnel together with Site Safety policy

Achievements

• Successfully implemented a Job Evaluation system with negotiations between Unions and ACAS in a 12 month period.
• Achieved in 12 months a Level 4 rating in Loss Control Management from a baseline of Level 0.
• Achieved an improvement in machine utilization of 3% over a period of 12 months.

EDUCATION

ONC Sciences, HNC Chemistry, GRSC Parts 1 and 2 in Chemistry

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

DNV Loss Control Management, Managing Health & Safety, Financial Management, Occupational Safety, Management Health & Safety, QS 9000 Quality Systems, ISO 9001:2000 Quality Systems and Auditing, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, Continuous Improvement Principles and Performance Management Techniques