Manages internal resin technology.

Leader of the SW Polymer Resource Center with responsibility for polymer research, design, scale up and global manufacture of resins and polymers supporting Sherwin Williams coatings businesses.

Allan works closely with all division innovation labs and product development teams to identify current and future technology needs of the organization. Leads in communicating S-W technology needs to external partners. Designs experimental work to understand if or how a new material can be tested for performance. Collaborates with the legal resources to create agreements to cover routine to unique partnerships and approaches and support the transition of external technologies into development projects within the operating divisions.

Directed technical teams across eight sites and three continents. These teams were responsible for product quality, continuous improvement through LEAN 6 sigma processes, customer support, and new product development, both within existing and new market segments and stage gate processes. • Expert in polymer technology, technical textiles, digital printing, and polymer processing methods, including coating, laminating and extrusion, color and adhesion science, and aesthetic design processes. • Led development program and delivered high performance surfacing materials for use in automotive, retail, marine, healthcare, contract, and residential interiors. • Responsible for products, including synthetic leathers for automotive, healthcare, marine, and furniture applications; rigid and thermoformable laminates for flooring, office, and furniture applications; contract wallcoverings for commercial buildings, and a range of materials suitable for exterior applications, including decking and exterior structural components.• Raised New Product Vitality (measured as % of sales of product released in the prior two years) from 18% to above 25%. Sales of new products developed and released on the market in FY 2011 were over $30M, representing approximately 8% of annual sales of the Division.

Took on the assignment, relocating to Shanghai, China, to establish a new product development capability in China and provided guidance and stewardship for business operations, following OMNOVA’s acquisition of former JV operations in Asia.• Generated growth in the automotive sector through development of materials know how, processes and infrastructure to manufacture and support automotive seating materials for OEM’s and Tier 1’s. • Established key technical functions in the China operations, including raw materials qualification, product development, and process improvement teams. • Grew automotive business by 30% through new products, delivering several key breakthrough products suitable for use in the U.S. market, including vacuum formable materials and high performance, cleanable polyurethane contract upholstery. This period required learning sufficient Chinese language to engage with local employees and developing culturally appropriate technical processes and tools. • Played a key role in maintaining ethical business practices and developing awareness of confidentiality and intellectual property issues.

Established a major innovation program from scratch, working in close collaboration with third party technology providers and academic institutions. The innovation function was also fully responsible for market research and development activities.• Managed key initiatives, business transformation opportunities were identified and move forward commitments were gained through a series of interactive, company-wide innovation sessions.• Led the fusion of leading edge technologies which resulted in numerous patents in the construction and defence markets.

Promoted with responsibility for all technical activities across five major manufacturing operations, three of which were based in the UK and two in the U.S. Key accountabilities included the design and manufacturing of thin film materials, including transfer foils, optical microstructures and electromagnetic tagging devices. Managed a team of 50 technical individuals. The three major roles were 1) Process Support, relating to continuous quality improvement of products and manufacturing processes, 2) Market Support, including customer technical support and problem solving, and product customisation to new meet customer requirements and 3) Business Development, including Company Strategy, Acquisitions and Mergers, and Strategic Product Development. • Led the successful merger of two sites, resulting in a saving of 45 heads and a £2M ($3.5M) per annum improvement in profit. • Developed a new process, allowing customers to double production speeds using the company’s products (EP0945280).• Delivered an advanced antitheft tagging system allowing the organization to compete in a higher margin market. (EP1163649 / WO0057379).• Led the successful acquisition of the major UK competitor, resulting in a combined operation with European sales of >£30M ($50M).• Established a new business unit to address the growing product security market.

Technical Director Recruited as Technical Manager of Whiley Foils to succeed the outgoing Technical Director who was retiring after 30 years in the position. Possessed full responsibility for all technical operations of the business and was promoted to Director within six months of joining the business. The technical functions were restructured and activities prioritized to deliver maximum benefit. • Delivered a patented new product (GB2299035), which replaced the company’s existing product range within two years of project completion and grew market share. Increased sales 20% (£11M /$17M) within two years.• Developed process improvements that led to a reduction in cost of quality from 20% to 9% and provided >£1M ($1.6M) incremental profit. This included the delivery of a breakthrough in line quality control method for ultra-thin films using advanced sensor technology. This was achieved through the DTI LINK Sensors program and involved close collaboration with local universities and businesses. A successful start-up business was also built to exploit this technology.

Led a number of project teams responsible for the development of advanced ink jet ink products. This was an extremely challenging technical task and involved a full understanding of materials, printhead physics, and electronics. Key skills used were leadership, scientific, project management and a thorough understanding of customer needs and applications.