WRAP appoints Jim Oatridge as Trustee

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has announced a further addition to its Board of Trustees with the appointment of Jim Oatridge OBE.

Oatridge holds several non-executive roles including Chair of Trustee Board at the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), and is a former Group Director at FTSE 100 Company, Severn Trent PLC.

During his career, Oatridge has held several positions in the environment sector, such as Non-Executive Director at the Environmental Industries Commission, and Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee at Forum for the Future. He received an OBE in 2003 for services to the UK and Global Water Industries.

The arrival of Jim Oatridge further complements WRAP’s Board of Trustees, following the recruitment of Robert Longley-Cook, Baroness Anne Jenkin, Sue Corbett, Sophie Thomas, and Dr Marc Stephens.

It also follows the announcement that Marcus Gover is to replace Liz Goodwin as WRAP CEO from 1 July.

Julie Hill, Chair, WRAP, said: “I warmly welcome Jim to our Board of Trustees, and know his strategic thinking coupled with his experience of sustainability issues, will be a huge benefit. The WRAP Board of Trustees has a diverse mix of skills, knowledge and experience, which will serve us well as we move into the next phase of our work.”

Dr Liz Goodwin, Chief Executive, WRAP, said: “I’m delighted Jim is joining the WRAP Board of Trustees. His background and experience will be a great asset to the Board. As I step down from my role as WRAP CEO, it’s good to see the appointment of new Trustees with a great mix of skills and expertise who will help guide WRAP’s future development.”

Oatridge himself said: “I am delighted to join WRAP, an organisation that has a great track record of effective action and one I have long admired.

“Having worked on a variety of projects relating to sustainable development, I look forward to helping WRAP with its goals to create a more sustainable resource efficient economy.”

S Norton adds directors as it looks to long-term future of metal recycling business

Metal recycler S Norton & Co has announced that it is carrying out a restructuring process to allow its owners John, Charlie and Matt Norton more time to focus on strategy and the long-term direction of the business.

Four new directors have been named to the board of the company, which employs 150 employees across eight sites, each starting this month.

The new board members are Roger Morton, Managing Director and Graham Donohue, Finance Director, plus two non-executive directors with long experience of the business, Margaret Harry and Norman Jones.

Morton has worked in partnership with S Norton for more than 10 years as a Director of Axion Polymers. He will help to advise shareholders and senior managers on the organisational and procedural changes, while providing an interface between the executive management teams and directors.

He will also continue to run the Axion business alongside fellow Axion Polymers Director Keith Freegard, with whom he founded the Manchester-based resource recovery and plastics recycling business in 2001.

Commenting on the moves, S Norton Chairman John Norton said: “These changes will help S Norton to maintain and grow its position as one of the largest and most progressive metal recyclers in Europe. The intention is to retain the close rapport of senior managers with the shareholders and retain the family ethos of the business, while ensuring that there is no change of control in the ownership of the company.

“In creating a stable long-term future for our company, our aim is to remain the preferred partner for suppliers and buyers of all types of recycled metal; stay at the forefront of technical and commercial innovation and empower our staff to take more responsibility, thereby increasing job satisfaction for everyone in our business.”

European paper industry announces new Director General

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has announced the appointment of Sylvain Lhôte as its new Director General.

As of 5 September, Lhôte, currently Vice-President of Governmental Affairs in Europe for aluminium and light metals engineering group Aloca, will take over from the current Acting Director General, Jori Ringman.

Prior to joining Alcoa, Lhôte directed EU and sustainability affairs for the Borealis Group, in the base chemicals and plastics industry and led a global CSR programme for the company in the EMEA region. He previously chaired the Fleishman-Hillard Public Affairs practice in Europe and headed its environment department, advising major trade associations and industries in the field of sustainability policies and public affairs strategies.

Lhôte began his career in parliamentary cabinets at the European Parliament and the French National Assembly.

Peter Oswald, CEPI Chairman, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Sylvain Lhôte on board and are sure his leadership and expertise will help CEPI reach ever higher levels of excellence. We are thankful to both Marco Mensink for his work during his mandate and Jori Ringman, who ensured the smooth functioning of the organisation until the new Director General was found.”