Leading UK automation and controls business IAC has made a trio of key appointments to its head quarters team in Newport.
Global operating Industrial Automation & Control Ltd., of Queensway Meadows, is the UK’s leading independent systems integrator of PLC systems, variable speed drives and Scada.
Chartered engineer Paul Howell, aged 43, has been appointed sales director, Tony Dobbs, 53, becomes service and training director, while Kath Lewis, 34, takes up the role of marketing and HR director.
IAC Managing Director, Peter Lewis said: “I am delighted that we have been able to make these high calibre appointments of Paul, Tony and Kath to key posts within IAC Ltd at this very important stage in the development of our business.
“The market has been extremely tough over recent years and still remains challenging but with continued dedication and hard work we have managed to sustain and grow our levels of business and also expand into in crucial export markets such as China and South Africa.
“I am confident these three new appointments will add further to the success IAC has enjoyed and will enjoy in years to come.”
Mr Lewis said the Newport-founded and based business had recently welcomed a high level delegation from top global consortium The Power Construction Corporation of China, POWERCHINA. It was now anticipated that valuable business could emerge from this and other valuable connections IAC has nurtured and developed in the Far East.
Peter said: “IAC Ltd has been broadening its exposure to the global markets and has targeted China as an area in which we believe we can grow our business.”
Chartered engineer Paul Howell has spent 15 years at IAC, 10 years working as a project manager and five years as sales manager. Paul had previously spent nine years as a development engineer with British Steel.
Paul said: “I am very proud to be given this responsibility for future decision making at this successful company. The previous team of directors has succeeded in building a fantastic foundation over the past 15 years, by developing a strong apprenticeship and an approved IET training programme. I intend to use this as a catalyst to take the business forward.
“The current sales figures have shown exceptional growth and we believe that with additional analysis and planning, IAC’s future will keep improving.”
Tony Dobbs has spent 11 years at IAC, building up a Service Division as the Service and Training Manager.
Tony served an indentured apprenticeship at BSC Llanwern, obtaining an ONC and then an HNC in Electrical Engineering. Tony left BSC in 1989 and spent 17 years with Siemens A & D, starting as a Service Engineer, he was promoted twice at Siemens, Principal Service Engineer and then Service Team leader before joining IAC in 2005.
Tony said: I am looking forward to this new challenge. I believe that IAC has the people, business knowledge and infrastructure in place to grow, but more importantly sustain our growth into the future. I have no illusions and I believe hard work from all at IAC will gain the results that we require to succeed into the future.”
Kath Lewis, an advertising and marketing graduate has been at IAC for exactly 10 years after joining the company in June 2006 where she has worked first as a marketing executive for three years then as marketing manager and head of HR.
Kath said: “I am delighted to have been recognised buy the company in this way. I am now looking to work on building and enhancing the brand and ethos of IAC Ltd and to further promote the quite exceptional team of professionals that we have here in Wales.
“I also want to work to ensure that IAC Ltd continues to be a place for apprentices to aspire to want to join and where they are able to successfully build world class careers, as so many fine people have done in the past and continue to do so today.”
IAC Ltd, which employs 75 people and has an annual turnover of £8.5m undertakes complex integration projects both in the UK and overseas, for a huge range of industries including paper, metals pharmaceuticals, materials handling, food, chemicals, printing, textiles, water and nuclear power.