16 January 2017

INCPEN – the Industry Council for research on Packaging & the Environment – has appointed Paul Vanston as its CEO to succeed Jane Bickerstaffe, whose retirement was announced last year. Jane will formally retire on19th May and in the meantime Paul will serve as CEO-designate to ensure a smooth handover and plan future activities with the INCPEN membership.

“We are delighted to welcome Paul as our new CEO,” comments INCPEN Chairman David Baker. “We interviewed a number of very high calibre candidates and Paul’s personal strengths, governmental expertise, and experience of the supply chain were key factors in his appointment. We are confident he will consolidate and build on Jane’s fantastic work over many years to ensure INCPEN is at the heart of shaping a post-Brexit UK that supports the supply chain’s needs.”

Paul has 26 years’ public sector experience in central and local government – the last 15 of which have been in the resource efficiency sector – including the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (now Defra), the Local Government Association and most recently with Kent County Council and the Kent Resource Partnership. His roles have covered leadership, policy and strategy development, and communications.

During this time, Paul has worked closely with INCPEN, other industry bodies and leading retailers, and been involved in a number of high-profile campaigns such as Fresher for Longer, Pledge4Plastics and Metal Matters.

“Paul is very well-known across the whole industry for his passion and genuine commitment to resource and product efficiency,” says Jane Bickerstaffe. “His supply chain work with retailers, brands, recyclers and others puts him in good stead to lead INCPEN into the future. I am pleased to hand over to him.”

Partner organisations in the packaging supply chain have reacted very favourably to the appointment.

“In Paul, the INCPEN board has made an excellent choice,” believes Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the Foodservice Packaging Association. “Jane has created a dynamic organisation and will undoubtedly be a very tough act to follow. While we are very sad to be losing her, I firmly believe Paul will rise to the challenge of building on Jane’s brilliant work and that INCPEN will continue to go from strength to strength. We’ve benefitted from a very productive working relationship with the organisation and I look forward to that continuing and to working closely with Paul to deal with the many challenges faced by packaging.”

Colleagues from the public sector have also welcomed Paul’s new role.

“I congratulate INCPEN on securing the services of Paul Vanston,” comments Cllr Rory Love, Chairman of the Kent Resource Partnership. “Over the decade I have worked with Paul at the KRP he has shown himself to be exceptionally capable and skilful, ever-resourceful, full of innovation, and incredibly aware and supportive of the needs of a member-based organisation. Paul is also a great communicator and strategist, which are premium skills as the UK, including the resource industry, rises to meet all challenges ahead.”

Ray Georgeson MBE, CEO of the Resource Association, said: “I’m delighted for Paul Vanston and for INCPEN with this superb appointment. Paul has a long record of achievement in local government and with the wider value chain. He has served as an elected director of the Association with distinction, and his passion and leadership for collaboration towards shared goals is well known. I’m confident Paul will continue to be successful in his new role at INCPEN.”

Ends