The UK's Packaging Federation will have a new chief executive from early December following current incumbent Ian Dent's announcement that he intends to stand down after seven years in the role.
Dent says the post was advertised during August, with “an excellent response from some first-rate candidates” and expects an announcement on a successor within the next month.
The holder of an HNC in chemistry and a Diploma in Marketing, Dent became Federation ceo in December 1999 following over 30 years with BP Chemicals where, having initially worked in sale, he went on to roles including commercial services manager, and, for the last six years with the petrochemical giant, manager, plastics & environment.
Succeeding James Jensen at the Federation's helm, Dent has put considerable emphasis on building the sector's profile with politicians, civil servants and government, developing a positive image for packaging in the media and among other key opinion formers and on strengthening the Federation's links with allied trade bodies in the UK and mainland Europe.
He believes his greatest achievements include managing change to incorporate and Affiliate structure, increasing the industry's profile by “constantly punching above weight”, establishing an interface with Ministers in DEFRA, the DTI and the Treasury, establishing and managing a packaging All-Parliamentary Group, organising and managing successful House of Commons receptions, chairing a working group for the UK Government's Advisory Council on Packaging, and leading a competitiveness study for the packaging industry with the DTI. Dent feels he has also developed a strong rapport with MEPs and senior European Commission officials in Brussels.
Dent says he several “exciting irons in the fire” in terms of his next move, adding that he is “by no means ready to put my feet up yet!”
