HL2014Aut
Transcription
HL2014Aut
AUTUMN 2014 / UK AND IRELAND / WWW.HENKEL.CO.UK SAFETY FIRST STRENGTHENING BONDS ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE Discover the latest safety events and initiatives taking place at our sites How a trip to Düsseldorf and Bopfingen solidified a key customer relationship Your ice bucket challenges, walking competitions and football matches We’re in! Celebrating a successful move to our state-of-the-art headquarters NEWS AUTUMN / 2014 Welcome to Henkel Life UK & Ireland Autumn 2014 Welcome to the Autumn edition of Henkel Life. It’s been a busy few months for our business, thanks in part to the move from three of our UK sites to our new headquarters at Hemel Hempstead... and there’s been plenty happening in Ireland, too. In this edition, we have a whole page dedicated to the work our sites are doing to ensure we all embrace a strong safety culture. Read more about the events that have taken place on page 4. Sanjay Mistry Head of Corporate Communications, Northern Europe We also take a look at some of the activities that have been happening across our business unit in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind – personally, I am still recovering from the ice bucket challenge that took place at our One Roof fundraising event, which many of you witnessed! In this issue… Finally, it really has been an exciting time for all of us who moved to the new Hemel building in August, so take a look at the pictures from our first day, along with feedback from employees, on page 8. Nicky Hastings Corporate Communications, UK & Ireland 07 08 Going into 2015, we’ll be looking at ways to provide a more sustainable Henkel Life, so look out for future communications, and enjoy this edition! Sanjay Please send your feedback to: [email protected] Published by Henkel Corporate Communications UK & Ireland and SPECIALIST, www.specialistuk.com 11 12 02 Henkel Life AUTUMN / 2014 Director writes: Mike Peacock Head of SHE Compliance and Key Infrastructure Projects, UK & Ireland NEWS 04 Safety in Dublin and Winsford 05 One of our key UK customers visits Henkel headquarters 07 Our Guide Dogs charity events 10 AC news round up FEATURES 08 Celebrating our successful move under One Roof PEOPLE NEWS 06 Meet some of our new starters 11 Your latest MIT volunteering projects 12 View from abroad Make sure you catch up on all our regular sections – there have been some unique MIT projects recently, and I particularly enjoyed reading all about sunny California in our view from abroad piece. NEWS Excellence is our Passion At Henkel, we see the claim ‘Excellence is our Passion’ every day. It’s on documents, in presentations, even on our ID badges, but what does it mean and how does it affect our decision making on a day-to-day basis? For the last three years, this ethos has been in the forefront of my mind, as I was acutely aware that people coming into our new HQ building in Hemel Hempstead would see it in large letters behind the reception desk. It was clear that the rest of the building had better live up to this claim, as we had glued it to the wall! With apologies to those not based in Hemel, I would therefore like to focus on the ‘One Roof’ project one last time. Anglo Holt as the main contractor, largely on the strength of the high-quality workmanship they’d demonstrated in other projects. One of the last stages in the delivery of a building is called ‘snagging’. This means that someone looks closely at the fine detail of the workmanship, and checks that the builder has actually supplied what was required. It is testament to Anglo Holt that the snag list was very short indeed, and is directly due to the uncompromising approach they took with their sub-contractors. Anglo Holt were firm but fair and managed to reduce costs, not One Roof by cutting corners, but by reducing rework From the start, we emphasised to all the because they demanded high quality from design team that we wanted to address the start. directly as many of our strategic priorities as In a project of this complexity, it was possible. Cornish Architects were selected, inevitable that some as it was obvious things were missed that they understood along the way – our need for a “Whenever a decision me forgetting the landmark building was particularly complex, confidential waste from the moment ‘Excellence is our Passion’ bins being a prime we first met them. was there to guide us” example. However, From the shape of this just serves to the building, to the underline that if we arrangement of the really mean that ‘Excellence is our Passion’, ‘core’ (the bit where the lifts and washrooms then it is a never-ending path we follow. There are located), to the selection of furniture, is ALWAYS something that we can do better, colours and even our restaurant partner, all faster or in a simpler way. has been done without compromise. Of course, this does not mean that money was unlimited. The project budget was set Something to strive for two years ago, and long before we decided to Going forwards, I would like to challenge change our way of working, so every detail everyone to examine their own working style had to be carefully considered. closely – we all want more storage but do we I was surprised at how far in advance some really need it? If we do, then does it really details had to be decided, meaning that need to be within a metre of our desk? Is a many decisions had to be made very quickly. cluttered desk really a sign of being busy? Is it Whenever a decision was particularly healthy to be stuck at the same desk all day or complex, ‘Excellence is our Passion’ was there should we be up and about a bit more? to guide us. ‘Excellence is our Passion’ can and does influence my decision making every day. Sometimes I hit roadblocks and sometimes An uncompromising approach my great idea turns out to be not so great Having achieved the first milestone of getting after all, but without this claim as something planning consent, we appointed Stoford that the entire project team were able to use Properties Ltd as our developer. This was a as a constant reminder of Henkel’s desire, hugely important decision to make, and was we would definitely not have a new HQ influenced by their clear commitment to an building anywhere near as good as the one open book approach, and company values we have now. n very similar to ours. In turn, Stoford selected Henkel Life 03 FEATURE AUTUMN / 2014 Winsford stops for safety day “Over the last year, Winsford has shown a marked improvement in Health and Safety awareness and commitment. Well done, Winsford! I look forward to next year!” On Thursday 25 September 2014, Winsford held its very first dedicated Safety Day Part of the SHE (safety, health and environment) Adhesives Europe plan for 2014, the day involved stopping production for the day and undertaking a number of activities. Plant manager Graham Newton kicked off the day with a presentation on the site’s safety statistics and how it is progressing against its SHE KPIs for 2014. Then everyone was divided into four groups, taking it in turns to attend each activity. Fire and rescue Cheshire Fire and Rescue presented two different scenarios to the teams on fire and road safety. In a mock-up kitchen, fire hazards were explained and a pan fire was simulated. The fire service team also went through ways of preventing a kitchen blaze, as well as fire spread. The second presentation discussed the Kelly deVilliers European SHE Manager consequences of a real-life car fatality that happened in Cheshire. Employees saw the car that was involved in the incident, and a storyboard told of how the accident was handled. The family of the person involved in the crash work with Cheshire Fire and Rescue to promote drink-driving awareness. Safety at work A number of activities were also organised, in order to tackle the issue of safety in the workplace for Winsford colleagues. Thor Chemicals, one of Winsford’s suppliers, presented information on hygiene and how it affects Henkel products. Meanwhile, Lean Training Solutions worked through exercises to demonstrate corrective action and preventive action (CAPA). Neil Lloyd, Engineering and SHE Manager at Winsford, gave a short presentation on the energy and water use of the site, after which the groups then undertook a few small exercises to identify areas where improvements could be made. ■ Developing the culture of safety Here at Henkel, we always put safety first, and Dublin’s involvement in the latest Culture Based Safety (CBS) programme takes this even further… The CBS programme aims to aid participants in understanding safety culture, recognising their part, and inspiring them to make a positive change. Dublin was the first Henkel UK & Ireland site to take part in the CBS programme, with the target of helping the site prevent injuries and accidents. The training The CBS programme was launched in September 2013 by Ken Frances, Manager of Global SHE programmes, and Phil Watson, Head of European SHE. Three CBS Champions were subsequently chosen: Linda Sheridan, Laura Byrne and Dave Byrne, and they took part in a 14-day training programme in November and December 2013. In February 2014, the champions started running their own workshops, and were highly successful in getting people to discuss safety. It also resulted in improved relationships across the Dublin site. 04 Henkel Life “In total, 370 people were trained, followed by Safe and Unsafe Acts (SUSA) workshops, plus a communication and behavioural engagement programme which started in April 2014,” explains Dr Patricia Cullen, Director of Global Product Development. “Additionally, the Dublin team members are carrying out safety walks (SWALKs), where both R&D and Operation staff can practise their SUSAs together.” CA plant. The new slogan, ‘Culture Based Safety, Check Before Starting, Come Back Safely’, was announced in June. Our safety slogan The future In May 2014, a competition was held to find a new CBS safety slogan, which will be rolled out in the coming weeks. The competition was a huge success, with 136 unique entries from Henkel Ireland staff on site. The winner of the competition was Tony Flynn from the Ballyfermot Ongoing activities for CBS include a quarterly telecom with the global CBS Champions from the three pilot sites, and the execution of further SUSA workshops. The CBS team in Dublin hopes to increase awareness with future events, such as a Lunch ’n’ Learn and monthly safety themes. ■ FEATURE Strengthening bonds On the road to making Henkel their sole supplier for adhesive technologies, the team from Howdens Joinery went to Düsseldorf and Bopfingen to see what innovations are on offer UK kitchen manufacturer Howdens Joinery made a visit to Düsseldorf this August, as part of its continuing partnership with Henkel. In 2009, Howdens made the decision to make Henkel its sole supplier for adhesives, and so far it has reduced its suppliers from 10 down to four, achieving improved efficiencies and product performance in the process. “The quality of our finished product is dependent on great adhesion with a minimal glue line,” said Phil Riches, Purchasing, Howdens Joinery. “Henkel has proved to be an excellent supplier over time, providing great products supported by a team of genuine experts. The switch to Henkel has proved to be a good decision, ensuring that we meet our target of no call-backs for quality from our customers.” As the efforts to strip back to one supplier continue, a team from Howdens came to Henkel HQ, to see what new technologies could further facilitate their move. Members of the Howdens team from Production and Project Management, Quality Assurance, Logistics, and Purchasing visited Düsseldorf, before moving on to the Henkel Technical Centre in Bopfingen. New technologies ABOVE Left to right: CBS Champions, Laura Byrne, David Byrne and Linda Sheridan AUTUMN / 2014 The visit to Düsseldorf centred on the manufacture of Polyurethane Reactive Hot Melt (PURHM) adhesives, a major technology that provides the performance for high quality kitchen components. The Howdens team took a plant tour to witness the process of making adhesives, followed by a tour of the Laundry Care products to see the diversity of the Henkel portfolio. Seeing new technology, such as the Nordson Freedom system, which is used to apply adhesives to cartons, allowed the team to see what could be useful for their diverse range of processes in the future. Innovative adhesives At Bopfingen, the focus was to see other technologies of adhesive manufacturing in the Europlant, and also to demonstrate the performance of proposed products for the Howdens team in a process called ‘edge LEFT The Henkel Technical team demonstrated new products to the Howdens team on the laboratory edge banding line ABOVE The Henkel Technical team and the Howdens Joinery team RIGHT The trip was rounded off with a visit to the local brewery near Bopfingen “Henkel has proved to be an excellent supplier over time, providing great products supported by a team of genuine experts” banding’, where decorative foils are applied to the edges of panels using PURHM adhesives. Again, the Europlant tour showed the high degree of automation all the way to the packing and stacking of bags of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) adhesives, which is used in everything from carton sealing to paper lamination. The Howdens team also had in-depth presentations of the laboratory tests that are a key part of new product development, and the strict procedures that are in place to ensure careful quality control of products supplied to Henkel customers. Mike Bridges, Henkel UK & Ireland Sales Manager, explains: “The Henkel Furniture and Building Components Strategic Unit is proud to be able to offer our existing and potential customers state-of-the-art facilities and technical knowledge for the testing and demonstrating of various adhesive technologies on machines that are used in real-life production environments. The Howdens team were able to see new products from the Henkel range that would offer them superior performance in the edge banding process. They learnt how these were evaluated in the laboratory, from initial idea to final product approval.” ■ Henkel Life 05 FEATURE AUTUMN / 2014 FEATURE AUTUMN / 2014 A warm welcome to… All for a good cause… A selection of the new faces we welcomed into our UK and Ireland business recently This year, our chosen charity is Guide Dogs for the Blind, and in the past few months you’ve been taking part in a range of events to raise money for this fantastic cause “Coming from Milan, it was natural for me to develop a passion for the fashion and beauty industry. This, combined with my interest in German culture, made the Schwarzkopf headquarters in Düsseldorf a perfect fit for me! “From my first job in the German sales force, I moved to the marketing team, as Product Manager for got2b. During my time in that role, I was delighted to see the brand win Henkel Beauty Care Brand of the Year. After covering an international role as Brand Manager for Taft, 2014 was the time for a new challenge. “I feel the UK is the place to be in the professional hair industry, so my new role is a great opportunity. Entrepreneurship is key to my new position and I’ve already had the chance to work closely with the General Manager, Michael Berggren, and the Head of North Western Europe, Simon Ostler, allowing me to develop some crucial managerial skills. “The move to Hemel Hempstead was the cherry on the cake for me. It is so exciting to see the new technology and open-working environments – the new building really feels like home.” Chao Roberts Junior Brand Manager, Unibond Started May 2014 Stefany Pench Head of Marketing, Henkel Beauty Care Professional Started January 2014 “My role has been very challenging so far, as I was asked to take ownership of my work from day one. This does, however, give me a tremendous sense of achievement. “What I enjoy most is that no two days are the same. I work on multiple projects at once and am in contact with many internal stakeholders on a daily basis. “Of course, the people I work with are a big part of why I enjoy my job. We joke and laugh, learning from each other constantly and supporting each other’s endeavours. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Henkel so far.” “I joined Henkel in 2011 as Junior Brand Manager in the Benelux Adhesives team, but I am new to Henkel UK & Ireland and my experience so far has been very positive. Henkel is a great company to work for and my role is demanding, with lots of responsibilities from the start, which makes it a great learning experience. “The AC team in the UK contains a lot of young team members with different nationalities, so I feel right at home! I also enjoy the fact that there is a local Product Development team and production plant in Winsford. Being close to these aspects of the business means you really feel involved in the whole lifecycle of the brands and products. “Over the summer, we’ve had the opportunity to launch a new brand in the UK – BullGlue. This was a very exciting project, as the UK is the pilot country for the rest of the world, so we needed to deliver a highquality execution. “The new, state-of-the-art building is great, and I really appreciate all the healthy fresh food! All in all, I’m very happy I made the move.” 06 Henkel Life Raising the roof! Having moved into our brand new Hemel building in August, a fun integration event in September seemed the perfect way to get everyone socialising, while also raising money for a good cause. The afternoon kicked off with a fun football match, which resulted in a score of 4-3 to the Red team. There was also a penalty shoot-out, as well as a raffle and other activities. “The football match was a fantastic success,” said Daniel Buckland, Research Technician and organiser of the match. “It was great to see everyone come and support the One Roof ethos in the name of a great cause. The game itself was fantastic, played in great spirit, and should help set a precedent for many more charitable events in the future. I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who helped organise and support this event; it couldn’t have happened without you!” Four very brave UK and Ireland ExCom members – Rondi Allan, Peter Budden, Sanjay Mistry and Mike Peacock – also took part in an ice bucket challenge, all in aid of the fundraising. An impressive total of £455 was raised, as well as £250 donated by the Hemel Football Club, which allowed use of its pitch. “Our first One Roof event was a fantastic success, and it was great to see people from the different business units socialising and having fun together,” said Lisa Vardy, Credit Manager UK & Ireland, who organised the event. ■ AFTERNOON DELIGHT From football to ice buckets – the entertainment at our first One Roof social event was not to be missed! Step challenge Anna Postma Brand Manager, Unibond Started June 2014 Occupational Health Advisor, Phyll Blake Byrne designed a Health Promotion initiative with a difference this September, raising €600 for the Irish Guide Dogs. “The challenge took participants on a virtual walk from Dublin to Cork,” she explained. “Teams submitted their total steps weekly and were able to review where they were on the trail. The winning team was led by Anita McEvoy, with team members Natalie Walsh, Liz Reardon, Deirdre O’Malley and Colette Dunne. The enthusiasm and fun generated was wonderful, and a number of employees have expressed that they intend to keep up the walking in their day-to-day lifestyle.” ■ ABOVE Dr Shane Farrelly and Phyll Byrne with the Step Challenge leaderboard Henkel Life 07 FEATURE AUTUMN / 2014 Our new building The day of the ‘big move’, 11 August, was a day to celebrate the completion of our state-of-the-art office in Hemel Hempstead, and was also the first step in our journey towards more flexible and effective ways of working… “Everyone seems to be happier and more motivated in the new building. It has made us all feel part of the Henkel family, and has put Henkel UK on the map. The move has been a catalyst to an improved working atmosphere and environment, throughout all departments.” admire the were invited to being led ps ou gr n, io pt re befo in rece After gathering and enjoy coffee and pastries, g in ild bu e new restaurant th around Kostas Galanis and Lee Ansell Customer Service Front Office Agents Adhesive Technologies FEATURE AUTUMN / 2014 “It was a brilliant day. I’d like once again to say a big thank you to everyone who made such a huge project possible. It’s not often that large-scale initiatives such as this turn out as you imagine them, but I have to say that the One Roof project is better than I ever envisioned.” Liam Murphy “The office has boosted morale, allowing for us all to truly feel part of a multi-national business. I particularly like the variety of work spaces. Meeting locations have become a lot more exciting!” After the initial inductions, ther e was time to relax and un pack Jessica Scott-Cooper Account Executive DIY Multiples ed together to make On the day of the move everyone workas possible othly smo as relocating run One Roof factfile er for in staggered groups, in ord Teams arrived at the site e a tour of the building everyone to receiv “For me, Hemel is a ‘different world’ from Aylesbury. Already I can see more people with smiles on their faces, and people have more energy and are more engaged. Improved cross-functional team work is already evident. At last we have an office environment that we can be proud of.” Julian Crane Head of Sales, Beauty Care 08 Henkel Life Sustainability: BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ EPC rating B Timings: Three years planning One year to build Architect: Cornish Architects Main contractor: Anglo Holt Materials: 3,500 raised floor tiles; 70,000 bricks; 68 tonnes of mortar Developer: Stoford Properties Limited Capacity: 220 people work in the building Did you know:Henkel adhesives and sealants were used throughout the building The day finished off with a wel UK & Ireland President Lia come from our m Murphy Henkel Life 09 NEWS AUTUMN / 2014 The hanging man Proving the power of Loctite... Following the success of last year’s Screwfix live, the 2014 event was bigger and better than ever. The September trade and DIY show, hosted by Screwfix, was held in Farnborough and provided a golden opportunity for the Loctite team to show off its products. The 2013 ‘Hanging Man’ demonstration was so successful that this year the Loctite team was invited to demonstrate the power of Loctite again, this time on the big stage. “It was certainly the top demo of the show,” said Paul Bagnall, Category Manager DIY. “We proved the power of Loctite glue by using it to hang a man upside down. It was a real crowd pleaser, and certainly drew a lot of attention!” ■ OSIS+ Glamination from Schwarzkopf Professional is a new range designed to help stylists achieve a natural, tousled look. For salon and home use, this range of products became available in partnered salons from September, and is supported by a range of training tips supplied to salons by Schwarzkopf Professional. Visit: www.schwarzkopf-professional.co.uk CONSUMER ADHESIVES A healthy home This year, Screwfix and Unibond proved again how much they value their trade consumers with another great giveaway UniBond has launched a new moisture absorption system that is up to 40% more efficient than previous products. The new AERO 360° PURE is a large moisture absorber, offering 360° air circulation for any room in the home, up 20m2 in size. The two-in-one AERO 360 tab, which fits into the device, is made from absorbent crystals and features patented antiodour technology to combat bad smells. Visit: www.unibond.co.uk BEAUTY CARE RETAIL Going straight offer tradesmen the chance to win these vans,” said Paul Bagnall, Category Manager DIY, and joint organiser of the competition. “We are aware that vans are more than a set of wheels to our customers. The vans we gave away were top of the range and ideal for people like Tom and Will to run their businesses. In return for running the promotion, we were able to gain brand exposure and a significant uplift in sales.” ■ An innovative styling product from the Schwarzkopf got2b range will be hitting shelves this October. got2b crazy sleek is a new way to maintain perfectly straight hair. For home use, this spray-in product comes in an easy-touse bottle and is available in all main supermarkets, Savers, Boots, Superdrug and Amazon. Visit: www.got2b.schwarzkopf.co.uk AUTUMN / 2014 A midnight stroll Undone style Top-of-the-range set of wheels 10 Henkel Life NEW PRODUCTS Read on for a round-up of some of the new products that have recently been launched across our business BEAUTY CARE PROFESSIONAL RIGHT The Loctite team demonstrated the product’s amazing strength with a ‘hanging man’ presentation Two tradesmen were presented with brand new Toyota vans this summer, when they won the latest Screwfix/Unibond competition. Tom Cusack, a builder from the West Midlands, and Will Stevens, a fencing contractor from Surrey, were presented with a Toyota PROACE van and a Toyota Hilux 4×4, respectively. Both winners were chosen from among thousands of tradesmen who entered the in-store competition across the UK. “We’re delighted to be able to FEATURE NEWS A summer to remember Hemel-based employee Katherine Day led her scouts on an adventure they will never forget Eleven members of the Nomad Explorer Scout Unit from Hertford had a memorable summer this year, when they completed the Rob Roy Walk and attended the renowned Lochearnhead camp in Scotland. The group of scouts, aged 14 to 18, elected to walk the route from Pitlochry to Lochearnhead, covering a distance of 40 miles in three days. Katherine Day, AE PD, Hemel Hempstead, took time off work as part of the MIT scheme and led the group on their adventure. “They achieved so much over the trek and I got to watch their confidence increase as they dealt with dodgy ankles and chaffing, and invented stories about being mauled by sheep!” said Katherine. “I love that MIT gives me the opportunities to support young people in ways such as this.” Lochearnhead is an old converted railway station owned by Hertfordshire Scouts, situated at the west end of Loch Earn in the Trossachs National Park, Scotland. Every scout district in the county is allocated a time slot over the summer, which works out as one week every four years – this makes Lochearnhead 'the' camp to go to. On arrival at Lochearnhead, the walkers were joined by another 20 Explorers and 30 Scouts, as well as the 30-strong adult leadership team. At the summer camp the scouts enjoyed mountain biking, sailing, kayaking and overnight camps in both the mountains and Canadian canoes. The Explorer patrols even took part in a mini-Triathlon, which involved running up a mountain, canoeing round a small loch, and a mountain bike shuttle run. “Since arriving home, we’ve had many messages from parents saying how much their child enjoyed the week. That’s what makes Scouting so worthwhile and I can’t wait for our next trip up there!” said Katherine. n BELOW The activities helped to build the Scouts' skillset and confidence This summer, Vic Green, Facilities Operator, completed an 11-mile sponsored walk to raise money for The Hospice of St Francis in Hertfordshire. The Midnight Walk raises money for the Hospice every year, helping the charity to provide palliative care, and Vic was able to contribute £250 thanks to his involvement in the event. “It was an awesome sight seeing an ocean of pink T-shirts and flashing bunny ears setting off,” Vic said. “I went for a more subtle approach with some pink dreadlocks! I’ve recently lost a lot of weight, so I was pleased to put my new-found health to good use!” Next year, in the spirit of One Roof, Vic hopes to assemble a team to complete the walk together, and raise even more money. n MIT – Making a difference in Haiti Thanks to continued efforts from employees in Dublin, charity projects are changing children’s lives in Haiti This July, University College Dublin Volunteers Overseas (UCDVO) sent a team of 23 volunteers to Haiti, with the aid of MIT funding. Henkel UK & Ireland employees from Dublin have been assisting rural communities since 2009. This year, they were able to send volunteers to run an educational summer camp for 700 children from poor communities in Gros-Morne, a rural town in northern Haiti. The summer camp and camp counselling carried out by the team aimed to teach children about hygiene and first aid, as well as tackling larger issues in the community, such as unemployment and childhood malnutrition. Through its volunteer work, UCDVO also supports development projects to improve education and sporting facilities throughout the country. The MIT funding application was made by UCDVO volunteer Dara Carr, Process Engineer at our Tallaght site. “The support received from my colleagues at Henkel UK & Ireland, and the assistance from the MIT initiative, really helped with the development and implementation of this project,” said Dara. “The group has been travelling to Haiti since 2009 and, thanks to MIT, the work we have carried out is visible in these rural communities.” n Henkel Life 11 PEOPLE NEWS AUTUMN / 2014 View from abroad Taking his skills to the US, Matt Hayward has discovered the full scope and diversity of the Henkel global strategy Matt Hayward, originally from Banbury in Oxfordshire, started his career with Henkel on 11 May 2006 as a European Product Manager in Circuit Board Protection. In a customer-facing role, and often travelling around Europe, Matt says it was the people and the culture of Henkel that first drew him to the job. Having visited many different Henkel sites, he believes you can see our vision and strategy at every location, and now living in California and working with Asian clients, he still finds it to be true. A global company Keen to progress in his career, but also to stay in AE, when an opening came up in the US, he was more than happy to accept the role of Global Product Manager in Semi-Conductor Liquids. In January 2014, he and his family moved to California. “I’m working with a range of nationalities and travelling to Asia a lot, so I feel Henkel’s global strategy is really important,” says Matt. “When you go from site to site you can see it having an impact. It may be very different in a lot of places – California is very dynamic and has incredible drive and energy – but you can still see that Henkel structure. The cohesion is really important. I’ve always had an understanding of how large Henkel is, but now I have a first-hand appreciation of how diverse it is.” The golden state California also appealed to Matt as a great place to take his young family. “Everyone says we are very lucky being in California because of the weather,” he says. “We are out doing things so much more. When I was in the UK, I took part in Duathlons, but now I have been brave enough to work on my swimming so I can participate in Triathlons.” The most memorable moment so far, according to Matt, was the first earthquake they experienced. “It was a 5.6, and it was a roller rather than a shaker,” he explains. “It really brought home to us where we’d moved too, but we’ve not been put off. We’re very happy here, and we’ll definitely be looking to stay in the long term.” n BELOW Matt and his family are enjoying getting outdoors and being active in California Site Notices: Congratulations to all Births Amanda Willis and her partner Chris had a boy, Marley Jacob Young, on 6 August. Ali Zakaria and his partner Ghazel had a girl, Aasiyah, on 16 June. Robert Phillips and his partner Shelley had a boy, Zachary, on 8 May. Stephen Wong and his wife had a boy, Conor, in September. Sue Craig had a girl, Keri, in July. John Riordan and his wife Emma had a boy, Josh, on 21 April. Marriages Andrew Dickens married Nadine on 6 September. Andrew Buck married Amy on 17 October. Paul Ryan married Alison on 23 September. Jenna Gurney married Daniel on 17 May. Promotions Rachel Richards became Territory Sales Manager on 1 June. Susan Boland became Telesales Team Leader on 1 June. Jenny Tran became Channel Marketing Manager on 1 August. Jessica Scott-Cooper became Account Executive on 1 August. Kiran Panesar became Channel Marketing Manager on 1 June. Katherine Johnson became Territory Manager on 1 June. Ryan O’Sullivan became National Account Manager on 1 July. Benjamin Willmot became Key Account Manager on 1 July. Fouad Khan became Senior Project Manager on 1 July. Stephen Ginger became Regional Equipment Tech Service Manager on 1 July. Michael Carter became Senior Laboratory Technician on 1 July. Julia Bauer became Junior Brand Manager on 1 July. Lucy Varghese became Marketing Assistant on 1 August. Wendy Lyford became Demand Planning Supervisor on 1 August. Debbie Lafferty became Demand Planner on 1 August. Patricia Evans became Warehouse/Logistics Controller on 1 August. Helen Bufton became Planning/Materials Supervisor on 1 August. Ian Wilding became Director, Product Development on 1 September. Benjamin Wilkinson became National Account Manager on 1 September. James Youmans became IA Key Account Manager on 1 September. Transfers Ged McGurk transferred to China on 1 July. Sylvia Roos transferred to Dubai on 1 August. Tarak Raghavan transferred to Germany on 1 September. 25 years Carole Barker, Hemel, joined 4 July 1989. Tony Kavanagh, Hemel, joined 31 July 1989. Gordon Verner, Slough, joined 1 Sept 1989. Barry Grindley, Winsford, joined 18 Sept 1989. Martin Fitzpatrick, Tallaght, joined 25 Sept 1989. 30 years Ian Williams, Hemel, joined 9 July 1984. Paul Bagnall, Hemel, joined 23 July 1984. 35 years Shaun Long, Hatfield, joined 2 July 1979. David Hawes, Hemel, joined 30 July 1979. Mike Collins, Hemel, joined 3 Sept 1979. Christine Cullen, Tallaght, joined 2 July 1979. Donal O’Siochru, Tallaght, joined 16 July 1979. 40 years Bobby Lambert, Tallaght, joined 4 July 1974. 12 Henkel Life © GETTY & MATT HAYWARD Long service awards