Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based President operating in the Manufacturing space. If you think a President is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Arjun Purkayastha
Senior Vice President – eCommerce, Digital & Ventures of Reckitt
Arjun Purkayastha is a purpose driven leader with extensive global experience managing diverse businesses and multi-cultural teams at FTSE Top 10 and Fortune 100 companies – RB and P&G. He has a strong track record of building outperforming teams, iconic brands & innovative business models across 60+ countries having lived & worked in the UK, Singapore, South Korea and India. He currently leads eCommerce, CRM, digital, DNVB & start up ventures globally for RB with P&L, strategic and operational responsibility of all online channels & customers. He serves on the Board of Directors of 4 high growth, online focused companies – Pharmapacks.com (one of the largest and best 3P resellers on Amazon), Bombay Shaving Company (leading men’s wellness company in India), UpSpring (mom & baby products) and Healthily by Your.MD (AI powered self care). He is also an Investment Committee Member of Founders Factory & RB’s JV focused on Hygiene & Home start ups.
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About Reckitt: Reckitt Benckiser Group is a consumer goods company makes health, hygiene and home products.
Mark Cooper
Vice President and Managing Director, Avery Europe and Asia Pacific of CCL Industries
Mark Cooper is a Vice President and Managing Director, Avery Europe and Asia Pacific at CCL Industries.
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About Avery, CCL Industries: CCL is the largest label company in the world and provides innovative solutions.
Jamie Robinson
Vice President and Managing Director, Home & Personal Care Europe of CCL Industries
Jamie Robinson is a Vice President and Managing Director, Home & Personal Care Europe at CCL Industries.
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About CCL Industries: CCL is the largest label company in the world and provides innovative solutions.
Bobby Ford
Vice President/Global CISO of Unilever
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About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Kees Kruythoff
President, Home Care of Unilever
Kees has enjoyed a long career history with Unilever, working in senior roles for the company since the 1990s, based in countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Prior to his current role, Kees had been President of Unilever’s North America business and Global Head of Customer Development since 2011. Between 2004 and 2008, Kees was based in South Africa as CEO of Unilever Foods, during which time he took part in a nationwide programme to bring together business, government and non-governmental organisations. In 2002, he joined the Board of Unilever Bestfoods in Asia, tasked with building Unilever’s foods and beverages brands across the continent. Kees is Chairman of Enactus International, a network of global business, academic and student leaders dedicated to developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and social innovators. Kees is married with four daughters and enjoys travel, sports and spending time with his family.
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About LIVEKINDLY, Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Nicky Clement
Vice President HR, Organisation Effectiveness & People Analytics of Unilever
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About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Britta Bomhard
Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of Church & Dwight, Co
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About Church & Dwight, Co: Church & Dwight Co., Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a range of household, personal care and specialty products.
Chris Parsons
President of Mayborn Group Ltd.
When Chris Parsons joined Mayborn in 2014 as General Manager, North America it was the chance to build a lasting legacy with our tommee tippee® brand in the US that attracted him to the business. Chris has a clear remit to drive growth across North America, and our US presence is now firmly established and growing rapidly – with our products on sale in the major US retailers including Walmart, BabiesRUs, Target and Amazon. A driven and highly acclaimed sales and marketing senior executive, Chris has held top flight positions in a range of international organisations in the UK and US. Originally from Manchester in the UK, Chris graduated from Newcastle University with a BA in Economics and Business Management. He’s a keen sportsman and proud tommee tippee dad with a young son and twin daughters.
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About Mayborn Group Ltd.: Mayborn Group Ltd. is a manufacturer and supplier of toddler feeding products.
Ian Wilson
Executive Vice President – Strategy & Development of Amcor
Ian Wilson is an Executive Vice President – Strategy and Development at Amcor.
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About Amcor, Control Risks, The Cheltenham Ladies’ College: Amcor is a provider of packaging solutions in Australia, Western Europe, North America.
Hubert Patricot
Executive Vice President and President, European Group of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Stephen Moorhouse
Vice President, General Manager – Northern Europe of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Scott Bourgeois
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer & Group Controller of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Nik Jhangiani
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Leendert Den Hollander
Vice President and General Manager of Coca-Cola Enterprises
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About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Eric Reynolds
Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer of The Clorox Company
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About The Clorox Company: The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX) is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products.
E J Marino
President & Chief Executive Officer of Plantation Patterns
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About Plantation Patterns: Plantation Patterns is a manufacturer of outdoor home decor.
John Higson
Executive Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Latin America of Avon Products
John Higson is Executive Vice President of Avon’s Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) and Latin America (LATAM) regions. He has been responsible for end-to-end operations across EMEA since 2012, and assumed leadership of LATAM in January 2016. Mr. Higson is also a member of the Executive Committee. From 2014 through 2015, Mr. Higson served as Head of Global Field Operations, providing assessment and advisory support to the sales teams in Avon’s top 12 markets. Prior to this role, Mr. Higson was Senior Vice President, Global Commercial Operations. Before that, he was Senior Vice President of Global Direct Selling and Business Model Innovation, with responsibility for leading and developing Avon’s initiatives and strategies for its direct-selling channel. Mr. Higson has also served as: Senior Vice President, Central & Eastern Europe; General Manager, Avon Poland; Head of Global Sales Development; and General Manager, Avon Hungary. Mr. Higson joined Avon U.K. in 1985 as a management Associate. He went on to hold the positions of Division Manager, Sales Planner and Regional Director before his appointment as General Manager, Avon Hungary in 1993. Mr. Higson studied Economics and Public Policy at the University of Leeds.
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About Avon Products: Avon Products, Inc. (Avon) is a manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products.
Colin Hutchison
Vice President of International of Edgewell Personal Care
Colin joined Energizer in 2004 as Vice President Europe for Wilkinson Sword. In 2006 he led the successful integration of the Personal Care and Household Divisions in Europe. After the Playtex acquisition, he became Vice President for Personal Care in Europe and led planning for the distribution expansion of Hawaiian Tropic and the Hydro brand launch. After the American Safety Razor acquisition, Colin was appointed Vice President and General Manager for EPC’s Private Brands Group. Overseeing strategic development for the global private label wet shave business, he reshaped the portfolio and developed a roadmap for growth through NPD and distribution expansion. Additionally, he led the integration of most functions into the wider Personal Care business structures. Prior to Edgewell, Colin worked for a number of consumer goods businesses based in Europe including United Biscuits and the Campbell’s Soup Company. He held various positions in sales, marketing, and general management that latterly included international responsibilities.
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About Edgewell Personal Care, Energizer Holdings: Edgewell Personal Care manufactures and markets a diversified range of personal care products.
Holger Aschke
President – Europe, Middle East & Africa of EnerSys
Aschke has served as President – Europe, Middle East and Africa since January 2016. From April 2010 to January 2016, he was the Vice President Sales and Marketing Reserve Power – Europe. Aschke joined a predecessor company in 1996 and has held a wide range of operational and sales roles of increased responsibility in the Company’s EMEA business.
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About EnerSys: EnerSys is the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications. We complement our extensive line of motive power,
David Shaffer
Director, President & Chief Executive Officer of EnerSys
Shaffer was appointed Director, President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 2016. He served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2014 through March 2016, and our President – Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) from January 2013 through October 2014. From 2008 to 2013, Shaffer was President – Asia. Prior thereto he was responsible for EnerSys’ telecommunication sales in the Americas. Shaffer has worked in various roles of increased responsibility in the industry since 1989. Shaffer received his Masters of Business Administration degree from Marquette University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois.
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About EnerSys: EnerSys is the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications. We complement our extensive line of motive power,
Giles Snare
Vice President , Sales Developed Markets of Beckman Coulter
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About Beckman Coulter: Beckman Coulter develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify & automate biomedical testing for lab professionals.
Paul Whiting
President of Global Sales of Sennheiser
Paul Whiting is President of Global Sales @ Sennheiser.
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About Sennheiser: Sennheiser develops, manufactures, and markets headphones, headsets, microphones, and integrated systems.
Alain Blosse
Vice-President of Research and Development of Oxford PV
Dr Alain Blosse joined Oxford PV in March 2017 as Vice President of Research and Development. Alain has over 30 years’ experience in the fields of semiconductor devices, process technology and advanced solar technologies. Prior to joining Oxford PV, Alain was Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Scifiniti, where he developed low cost kerfless silicon wafers for the solar industry. Before that, Alain was the Senior Director of Engineering where he developed a low cost and highly efficient solar cell. Alain has an established track record of transferring technology from Research & Development to high volume manufacturing, this has included; high density static RAM memories at Cypress semiconductor, NAND flash memories at Intel Corp and high efficiency solar cells at Calisolar. Alain led the Intel/Micron integration development team on deep submicron NAND flash gate technology and was the key technical leader at Clean Power Innovation Inc. for the development of an innovative silicon based anode for high performance lithium-ion battery. Alain has an Engineering Degree in Electronic and Computer Sciences from a top institute in France and a PhD in Solid State Physics from Lille University in France. Additionally, Alain holds 26 U.S. patents related to solar, semiconductor processes, and non-volatile memory applications.
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About Oxford PV: Oxford PV is a provider of perovskite solar cells.
Andrew Nelson
President & CEO of IQE
Andrew Nelson has over 30 years experience in the semiconductor industry in a variety of research and managerial positions. Following a PhD in Semiconductor Physics, he joined BT Research Laboratories in 1981, leading the group responsible for the development of advanced optoelectronic devices for optical fibre communications. He subsequently managed the technology transfer from BT to Agilent for mass production. He co-founded EPI in 1988 (which became IQE in 1999) and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of IQE Plc in April 1999. Andrew has held several Non-Executive Directorship appointments, and served on several Government and Industry bodies. He received an OBE in 2001 for services to the Electronics Industry. He is currently a member of the High Level Group appointed by the EC to oversee the implementation of Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) throughout Europe.
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About IQE: IQE is the global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductor wafer products.
Julian Hughes
Senior Vice President, US of Intelligent Energy
Julian is based out of our San Francisco Bay Area office and heads up the Group’s Commercial activity as well as US operations. Prior to joining Intelligent Energy, Julian held senior positions within the automotive industry at General Motors (Vauxhall) and TWR Group (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) which then led into the Cleantech sector with Microgen Engine Corporation where he held the position of CEO. Microgen developed and manufactured Stirling engines for the CHP, Military and Solar markets. In addition to his role as Group Corporate Development Director, Julian is also a Non-Executive Board Member for IECHP Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Intelligent Energy.
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About Intelligent Energy: Intelligent Energy is a clean power systems company offering fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies.
Norman Shaw
President & Founder of ExactTrak
Norman has started and managed a number of companies over the past twenty-five years. His career started with Sony Corporation in Australia and subsequently the UK, marketing and selling newly developed products and commercialising Sony’s IP over a period of 10 years. Since 2008 Norman has been CEO of ExactTrak, developing the products and business of its mobile data security technology.
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About ExactTrak: ExactTrak supplies embedded technology that protects data and devices, giving the user visibility and control over turned off devices.
James Beard
President of SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions
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About SCREEN Semiconductor Solutions: A manufacturer of semiconductor equipment for the lithography coat/develop and wet cleaning/etching processes.
Ramchander S.
Vice President of Global Marketing of Castrol
Ramchander A.S. is a Vice President of Global Marketing at Castrol.
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About Castrol: Castrol is a worldwide leader in high performance lubricants for the automotive, industrial, marine and aerospace industries.
Brad Bailey
Vice President of Sales of Ivy Sports Medicine
Brad Bailey, Vice President of Sales brings over 19 years of experience in the medical device industry with a focus in Sales management and Marketing. He has extensive experience in building teams to execute sucessful product launches and realize sustained sales growth. Mr. Bailey has worked in and run sales organizations focusing in Sports Medicine, he was Director of Sales of the Sports Tissue and Biologics Division at ConMed Corportation. He has also held leadership positions with the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF), DePuy Spine and Spar Medical. Mr. Bailey graduated from Birmingham Southern College in 1993 with a B.S. in Management.
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About Ivy Sports Medicine: Ivy Sports Medicine is a young, dynamic company with extensive expertise in the development and production of meniscus implants.
Maria Karam
Founder, President of Tactile Audio Displays Inc.
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About Tactile Audio Displays Inc.: R&D Leaders in Sound Systems for the body
Richard Parry-Jones
President of HSSMI
Richard Parry-Jones is the president of HSSMI.
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About HSSMI: HSSMI is an innovation institute for manufacturing that helps companies develop and take measures towards their strategic general goals.
Richard Parry-Jones
President of HSSMI
Richard Parry-Jones is the president of HSSMI.
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About HSSMI: HSSMI is an innovation institute for manufacturing that helps companies develop and take measures towards their strategic general goals.
Chris Stafford
President of CleanCut
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About CleanCut, Recast: CleanCut manufactures and distributes bath accessibility conversion products.
John S. Cooper
President and CEO of Portec Rail Products
John S. Cooper is President and CEO at Portec Rail Products.
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About : Portec Rail Products manufactures, supplies and distributes a broad range of railroad products.
