Expertise
- new product development
- Coaching
- Health & Safety
- Innovation
- Product Manager
- Quality Management
- health and safety
- R&D Management
- Technology Scouting
- Rubber Technology
- Materials Science
- Chemicals
- Polymer Science
- Medical Gloves
- Industrial Gloves
- Product Stewardship
- Technology Broker
Summary
Norman is a highly experienced technology director with more than 25 years international working experience. Now returned to the UK after spells in Belgium, Malaysia (twice) and the US, his industrial R&D and manufacturing experience has covered polymers (plastics, polyurethanes, latex, rubber), mining equipment, glove manufacturing and chemicals.
For the last 3 years, Norman was Business Development and Innovation Director for Weir Minerals Malaysia, a manufacturing business within the Weir Group. He was responsible for intra-company supply growth out of Malaysia within the Weir Group, product development of rubber based products, natural rubber latex technology development, company environmental management performance and global product stewardship. In addition, Norman was also Global Product Manager for Weir Minerals' £75M/year sales rubber protective lining business which sells in to the mining industry. This additional responsibility included strategic planning, new product development strategy, marketing and competitor analysis.
Prior to Joining Weir, Norman spent 7 years (2006 - 2012) with Ansell Healthcare, one of the world's leading producer of medical gloves, industrial gloves and condoms. In his role as Vice President Science & Technology, he had responsibility for leading Ansell's Indsutrial Glove business unit's R&D activities. Based in Malaysia, Norman was responsible for leading product development teams in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mexico as well as the UK.
Norman startred his industrial career in 1988 with ICI in the UK before moving with ICI to Brussels (1991 - 1999). He then joined Elementis, first in their Linatex rubber products division in Malaysia in 1999 as Global Research & Technology Manager, followed by a two year stint in the United States with Elementis Specialties (2004 - 2006).
Norman holds an MBA from the Open University, has a PhD in Chemistry and a first class hounors degree in Chemical Physics both from Manchester University. In 2016 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).