IPLAS MAKES TWO KEY SALES AND MARKETING APPOINTMENTS

A successful and experienced sales and marketing director with a strong background in building adhesives is bonding with a new employer.

Paul Harris, 45, has become one of two important new sales and marketing appointments at Iplas, the UK’s most technologically-advanced maker of high performance recycled plastics, based in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Nigel Croad, 31, has also joined the company as business development manager.

Both recruits have transferred from similar roles. Mr Harris was with Technology Supplies in Market Drayton, Shropshire, while Mr Croad’s last employer was Manthorpe Building Products, in Ripley, Derbyshire. 

The appointments have allowed Gavin Wray, previously Iplas sales and marketing director, to take up the strategically-important new role of director of specialist sales. Reporting to Mr Harris, his new responsibilities will include developing new applications for Zyplex, Iplas’ new family of maintenance-free, engineered, blended polymers, and driving sales of consumer products.

Mr Harris has held sales director roles successfully for 11 years including periods with Stoke-on-Trent firm, Building Adhesives; Runcorn-based Capital Safety Group; and Slough & Wigan-based sealant and building protection specialists, Tremco Illbruck.

A key part of Mr Harris’ new role will be stimulating sales of Zyplex, which offers potentially significant cost and performance advantages over traditional construction materials.

Mr Harris said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Iplas at a time when the company is growing fast, following the successful launch of Zyplex. I decided to move after becoming aware of the organisation’s successful track record and reputation, but also because of its huge potential for further expansion.”

Mr Croad, who was with his last employer for four years, previously spent a similar length of time with Castleford-based Nordan Builders Merchants.   

He said: “I’m really looking forward to my new role, a key part of which will be working with distributors to ensure the additional new products we’re planning will be specified.”

Grahame Hall, Iplas chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Paul and Nigel aboard. Their appointments are key elements in our strategy, which involves growing our turnover almost four-fold to £15m within four years.   

“A major part of the new roles will be making more specifiers, processors and end users aware of the company and its products, and why they are superior to so many traditional competitor offerings in a wide variety of respects.”

Iplas has been leading the way for mixed plastic recycling since its formation in 1999 and its success has been due to developing a unique waste processing technology, which it continues to enhance with new product developments. The company’s products are used by many major organisations in the private and public sectors. Iplas’ other output includes outdoor and street furniture - such as seats, benches and bollards - plus plastic lumber.

Further information about Iplas can be found at www.iplasgroup.co.uk