Strategic succession planning has led to some key changes in management at the Malvern based Flow Regulator manufacturer, Neoperl UK. From April Kevin Gates is to move from the role as UK Managing Director to a European Business Development Director position and Mike Burton will step up as Operational Site Director alongside Chris Neath who has been promoted to Director of Sales, to lead the UK business.
Kevin Gates has been working as the MD for Neoperl UK since 2016. The business has seen some great developments under his leadership, including embedding 5S and lean principles on the site and lots of investment in staff training. UK sales have also grown during this time despite having to lead the business through a challenging time during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kevin believes he will be ably replaced in the day to day running of the business by Mike Burton and Chris Neath who together bring 32 years of service and experience with this specialist product manufacturer.
Mike Burton joined the business in 2000 as a Toolmaking apprentice and has worked across many disciplines from toolroom leader, engineering manager to his current role as operations manager where he has been for 5 years. There is little he doesn’t know about this technical business, that still makes its own tools for the flow regulators it manufactures and distributes globally.
Chris Neath is a specialist in sales having joined Neoperl UK in sales administration in 2013. He is very well known and respected across the markets and customers they sell to and has been head of sales for the business since July 2022.
Final word from Kevin Gates, “Neoperl UK is in a strong position in the market and whilst I may be spending my time focussing on business development projects across Europe and Globally, I will still be based in the UK. It’s time for Mike and Chris to step up and bring their ideas and values to the day to day running of the business and I am confident it will continue to thrive with their energy, knowledge and skill set.
(L-R: Chris Neath, Kevin Gates, Mike Burton – Neoperl UK)
