BPF
Hitchin ascends to presidency of UK trade group / New leader familiar with processors' issues
— By Eric Culp —
 Martin Hitchin (c.) with BPF Director General Philip Law (l.) and outgoing BPF President Nigel Flowers (Photo: BPF) |
The British Plastics Federation (BPF, London; www.bpf.co.uk) has announced the elevation of Martin Hitchin to president, a move that followed his appointment to the organisation’s top management team as vice-president last year. The group said he was the unanimous choice of the BPF council members.
The CEO of UK, Ireland, and Scandinavian operations for British-based Rehau UK (Ross-on-Wye; www.rehau.com/uk-en), Hitchin is said to have 35 years’ experience in manufacturing and construction and is a member of the steering committee at the industry association European Plastics Converters (EuPC, Brussels; www.plasticsconverters.eu). He also serves as vice-chair at the UK’s New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE, Hereford; www.nmite.ac.uk), a start-up engineering university, the BFP noted.
“I am honoured to have been voted in as president and look forward to working with the BPF to deliver more successes as we face the challenges ahead,” Hitchin said.
The new president replaces Nigel Flowers from Sumitomo Demag (SHI), who spent the past two years in the group’s top leadership slot, the federation explained. Flowers said Hitchin “has experience in many areas of plastic processing as well as a background working with windows, pipes, the automotive sector – and also for recyclers. His diverse background means he brings a wealth of knowledge that reflects the breadth of the BPF itself.”
The announcement came at the BBF’s 90th annual general meeting. The group said it added more than 50 new members last year, which pushed the total to over 600.
The CEO of UK, Ireland, and Scandinavian operations for British-based Rehau UK (Ross-on-Wye; www.rehau.com/uk-en), Hitchin is said to have 35 years’ experience in manufacturing and construction and is a member of the steering committee at the industry association European Plastics Converters (EuPC, Brussels; www.plasticsconverters.eu). He also serves as vice-chair at the UK’s New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE, Hereford; www.nmite.ac.uk), a start-up engineering university, the BFP noted.
“I am honoured to have been voted in as president and look forward to working with the BPF to deliver more successes as we face the challenges ahead,” Hitchin said.
The new president replaces Nigel Flowers from Sumitomo Demag (SHI), who spent the past two years in the group’s top leadership slot, the federation explained. Flowers said Hitchin “has experience in many areas of plastic processing as well as a background working with windows, pipes, the automotive sector – and also for recyclers. His diverse background means he brings a wealth of knowledge that reflects the breadth of the BPF itself.”
The announcement came at the BBF’s 90th annual general meeting. The group said it added more than 50 new members last year, which pushed the total to over 600.
16.05.2025 Plasteurope.com [257989-0]
Published on 16.05.2025