Scott Bader expands to Far East

Scott Bader has appointed Joe McKeever as their new CEO in the Asia Pacific region. For the past 10 years he has been running the Jebel Ali operation of the multi-national company.

Scott Bader make composite and polymer materials which are used in a wide variety of applications including construction, building boats, trains, planes and cars, storage tanks and pipes.
During McKeever's time in Jebel Ali the plant's output has risen from 10,000 tonnes in 1996 to 30,000 tonnes currently, with the majority of output exported. His new role will be to develop Scott Bader's business interests within China, South East Asia and Australasia.

The company competes strongly with Asian manufacturers, who have also been penetrating the Gulf market with low prices but McKeever said: "'With the aid of extremely competitive rates for back traffic container shipments from Jebel Ali to destinations such as Hong Kong and Singapore we are now able compete in the Far East with resin suppliers who have traditionally given Scott Bader a hard time in the Gulf. Now it's time to take them on in their own backyard."
Scott Bader, which was established in the UK in 1921, is no stranger to the Chinese market - they were the pioneers of composite technology in Asia when they commissioned China's first polyester resin plant near Shanghai 40 years ago.

Since then the company - which operates on a common ownership basis with no external shareholders and a strong commitment to support its workforce, society and the environment - has expanded worldwide. Today it is a US$ 200 million multinational chemical company, employing over 500 people. As well as Jebel Ali, they have manufacturing facilities in the UK, France, Croatia and South Africa.

Peter Hedley, Sales & Marketing Director of Scott Bader (Pty) in South Africa, will take over as CEO of Scott Bader's Middle East operations effective July 1st. This is a key role for Scott Bader recognising the strength of the Middle East market growth fuelled by strong oil revenues and a booming construction sector.