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Chemical Engineering
Leeds University |
Head of Manufacturing Technical EMEA
'A graduate of Chemical Engineering, I joined Cadbury Schweppes back in 1982 as a Process Engineer, based in the Technical Development Department in Bournville. My first projects included working in a pilot plant environment to optimise Crunchie and Double-Decker processing, and that work led me to become the Process Engineer for a multi-million pound project. That involved building a fully-automated Crunchie line to replace four older plants.
'A few years after that, I had a six-month secondment to Motts in the US, to commission a syrup preparation plant for cocktail drink mixes. Returning refreshed, I was officially appointed Process Engineering Manager for the Somerdale production site. After two years in this role I took up the same role at Bournville - providing process support for projects across every chocolate site in the UK.
'In 1992 I was appointed Project Manager for the construction of a new chocolate-making facility in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During the design stage I travelled to the site on a regular basis and when the construction phase began my family and I moved to Argentina to live there for the duration of the project!
'After returning to the UK in 1995, I became Operations Manager at the Marlbrook milk-processing factory in Herefordshire. This broadened my experience into manufacturing management as my previous roles had all been technically orientated.
'Following that, I returned to Bournville and was initially Technical Manager for the Moulded Block production before progressing to Technical Manager of the whole Bournville site. In 2000, with the operational merging of Cadbury and Trebor Bassett, I gained additional technical responsibility for the sugar side of the business.
'In 2003 the business reorganised the Supply Chain to create a Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and I was appointed as Head of Manufacturing Technical for the region. I now have responsibility for delivering the Capital Investment agenda across the whole region, involving projects everywhere from Russia and Poland to Egypt and Nigeria.
'At Cadbury Schweppes I've been given real responsibility in all my roles and enjoyed the challenge of having a real influence on projects that actually shape the future of the business.
'I've been given the opportunity to work in different business areas, different countries and different cultures, but best of all is working with great brands that are recognised across the world.'