UK APPOINTMENTS
The Board of Directors of Tata Sons unanimously recommended Mr. Cyrus P. Mistry as deputy chairman. He will work with Mr. Ratan N. Tata over the next year and take over from him when Mr. Tata retires in December 2012. This is as per the unanimous recommendation of the Selection Committee. Endorsing the appointment, Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons, said: “The appointment of Mr. Cyrus P. Mistry as Deputy Chairman of Tata Sons is a good and far-sighted choice. He has been on the Board of Tata Sons since August 2006 and I have been impressed with the quality and caliber of his participation, his astute observations and his humility.”
eXception Group, a printed circuit board and contracts electronics manufacturing solutions provider has appointed Mark O’Connor group CEO. Promoted internally from his position as joint managing director, the new appointment will see O’Connor build on the company’s recent success, which has seen it continue to grow 10% year on year, despite recent economic turmoil. He will spearhead the company’s latest drive into new geographies as it continues its growth in Europe and Asia.
Qioptiq announced the appointment of Bruno Bosser as the new account manager for Northern Europe and Canada within Qioptiq’s fiber optics and diode laser division. Bosser has extensive experience in optical components as he previously worked for a well-known manufacturer for several years and will now be focusing on cutting-edge laser technology.
He will be dealing with many countries within Europe, specifically focusing his energy on assisting the French-speaking countries requiring laser delivery systems.
The British Standards Institution announced that Dr Scott Steedman CBE has been named as the director (designate) of standards and will start his new position on January 16. Dr Steedman will replace Mike Low on the board after he retires in September 2012. His responsibilities will include driving BSI’s standards development strategy, engaging with business to ensure that standards meet their needs, and strengthening relationships with the UK Government and international standards bodies. Prior to joining BSI, Steedman worked for Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners, High Point Rendel, and Foster Wheeler Energy, and more recently with BRE Global.
Jurgen Maier, managing director of Siemens UK and Ireland Industry Sector, joined the board of North East-based International Innovative Technologies. The company specialises in the design, precision engineering and manufacture of a range of high output mills, classifiers and cyclones. Maier will act as a non-executive director to help with the international market and technology development of IIT’s range of products and new technologies. With Siemens Industry Sector, he is responsible for a £600m business operation employing around 2,000 people.
The Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association appointed its first woman vice president, Lynn Tomkins, who is also sector skills council Semta’s UK operations director. David McGinley, business development director at Babcock, is now president. Tomkins has worked with the marine sector and SSA for over 10 years and led the development of the sector skills agreement establishing the UK Marine Sector Strategy Group. In her role, she is responsible for employer relationships at a sectoral and regional level with the aim of increasing employer’s skills ambition to stay competitive.
Gerry Cook was appointed internal sales manager at solid carbide cutting tools manufacturer SGS Carbide Tool with the aim of further improving the company’s response to customer demands. The newly created position will form a crucial link between the firm’s very experienced technical sales engineers and its advanced production facilities. Cook brings a wealth of customer communication and problem-solving skills to the company. He previously worked for manufacturing and technology software company Delcam and the MoD.
Atlas Copco Compressors appointed Paul Clark as business line manager of its industrial air division in Great Britain. In his new role, he will focus on the sales and marketing of industrial air compressors, quality air accessories and nitrogen generators. Clark started his engineering career as a qualified toolmaker first in the UK, and then in the USA, before returning back to the UK to take up a sales role for a compressed air distributor. Before joining Atlas Copco Compressors, he was also sales manager for a dryer manufacturer and managing director of air dryer and filtration specialist Hankison UK.
Delcam has expanded its training team in the UK with the addition of Paul Richards, formerly training team leader for the AlphaCAM product range at the Planit Group. The appointment comes as Delcam is seeing record demand for training. Richards has more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing and engineering.
Evida Power, the designer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles, appointed David Roberts as executive chairman of the board. He has a wealth of automotive experience in manufacturing. Among other things, Roberts achieved the successful turnaround of Chrysler UK and its sale to the PSA Group, and the development and implementation of a complete quality assurance strategy at Aston Martin.
Solar panel specialists EOS Energy, part of the Alumet Group, appointed Darren Gardner as business development manager. In 2010, Gardner took part in the creation of the Renewable Energy Technology Alliance, which he now chairs. He also has several years of experience as sector advisor for environmental technologies at Coventry City Council.
Bombardier Transportation announced changes to its senior leadership in the UK. Sir Neville Simms, FREng was appointed non-executive chairman of Bombardier Transportation UK. Paul Roberts has been promoted to chief country representative and president of Bombardier Transportation, services UK and passenger fleet management service line. He will take on the role after Colin Walton retires in February 2012 after two decades with Bombardier.
INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS
Richard Nagorny is in charge of the newly established central business unit Shared Service Center at Werum Software & Systems AG. Reporting directly to the executive board, he is responsible for finances, controlling, procurement, human resources, internal IT, and infrastructure. Nagorny held the CFO position at the pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca Germany in Wedel before joining Werum.
During its General Assembly held in Brussels on October 27, Eurometaux elected Oliver Bell as its new president. Executive vice president of Norsk Hydro ASA, chairman of the Hydro Supervisory Boards of Germany, and chairman of non-ferrous metals association WVM’s initiative “Metals pro Climate”, Bell joined the aluminium industry in 1989 and Hydro Aluminium in 2002.
