Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. announced today that Prof. Graham Hillier has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director on its Board. Graham replaces Ian Bonas who has stepped down after 22 years of outstanding contribution to the company.

As the Strategy and Futures Director at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and the former Director of Strategy and Planning for ICI’s Petrochemicals, Plastics and Fertilizers Business, Graham brings a substantial level of experience and expertise to the Thomas Swan Board as the company looks to grow through new product development and targeted investments in the UK and overseas.

Graham has a Degree in Metallurgy, a PhD from the University of Cambridge and an MBA. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He has been a Visiting Professor at Salford University and Teesside University. He has a particular interest in Resource Efficient Manufacturing Systems. He is also a member of the board of Northumbria University in Newcastle.

Commenting on Graham’s appointment, Harry Swan, Chairman and CEO of Thomas Swan said: “I’m thrilled that Graham has agreed to join our Board. I have worked with him for many years on various industry bodies and have developed a huge amount of respect for his enormous experience and passion for improving organisations through innovation and technical development. Graham will be a wonderful addition to our Board and I look forward to working with him.

I would also like to thank Ian Bonas for his long and outstanding contribution to Thomas Swan. Ian saw many changes and improvements at the company over 22 years on the Board and in various management positions and his guidance will be greatly missed.”

Commenting on his new post, Graham said: “It is a real pleasure to be joining the Board of Thomas Swan. It is a great testament to the company and its ethos that it has been at the forefront of innovative process and product development for over 90 years. This feels like a great time to be joining the company and I am really looking forward to working with Harry and the team as they take the business into the next phase of its growth through both product development and international partnership.”