PAUL Vanston will succeed Jane Bickerstaffe as CEO of INCPEN, the Industry Council for research on Packaging & the Environment.
He will serve as CEO-designate until Jane formally retires on May 19 to ensure a “smooth handover and plan future activities”, INCPEN revealed.
INCPEN chairman David Baker said, “We are delighted to welcome Paul as our new CEO. 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, the Local Government Association and most recently with Kent County Council and the Kent Resource Partnership. INCPEN said his roles have covered leadership, policy and strategy development, and communications.
During this time, Paul has been involved in a number of 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,” added 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.”
Martin Kersh, executive director of the Foodservice Packaging Association welcomed the move. “In Paul, the INCPEN board has made an excellent choice,” he said. “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.”
