OPRL names interim managing director, Roberts Mart welcomes new sales director

UK – OPRL (On-Pack Recycling Label) has announced the appointment of Jude Allan as interim managing director, following Dr. Margaret Bates’ secondment to Defra as the Head for the UK Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) for Packaging Scheme Administrator.

Bates will dedicate up to two years to her new role, and she expressed her confidence in Allan’s appointment, citing her extensive expertise in packaging and alignment with OPRL’s sustainability values and B Corp principles.

Allan, a materials engineer with a vast background in the packaging industry, brings invaluable experience from her tenure as a trustee at IoM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining) and her leadership at jonesknowlesritchie, a prominent packaging design agency in London.

She views her role at OPRL as an opportunity to navigate the sector through a period of significant change and uncertainty, leveraging OPRL’s reputation for clarity and compliance in recyclability claims.

Assisting Allan in her role is Alice Harlock, recently promoted to Director of Technical and Member Services. Harlock’s extensive experience, including her tenure at WRAP, ensures robust support for OPRL’s mission.

Roberts Mart welcomes new sales director

Meanwhile, Leeds-based flexible packaging manufacturer, Roberts Mart, has appointed Simon Lewis as its new sales director.

Lewis, with a decade-long tenure at the company, has played a pivotal role in its growth trajectory, culminating in a promotion to head of sales in 2021.

His strategic leadership has led to the acquisition of over 10 new customers across various sectors, setting the stage for continued growth with a target turnover surpassing £50m by 2024.

This expansion aligns with Roberts Mart’s recent investments in new machinery and facility expansions totaling over £11 million, enabling the company to accommodate increased contracts.

William Roberts, the managing director, lauds Lewis’s contributions to the company’s success and warmly welcomes him onto the Board.

Moreover, Roberts Mart has bolstered its production and warehouse teams with significant managerial appointments.

James Campbell and Gosia Mierzwa-Paszkowska have been promoted to production manager and operations manager, respectively, while Sam Hocker and Paul Walshaw assume critical roles in quality & technical coordination and engineering & facilities management.

Furthermore, the addition of Dominic Kissack as business development manager and Jo Fletcher as health, safety & environmental manager strengthens Roberts Mart’s commitment to excellence across all facets of its operations.

These appointments underscore the company’s dedication to enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and growth in the competitive packaging landscape.

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