Local packaging business appoints new General Manager

Wiltshire packaging manufacturer, GWP Group, have announced the appointment of a new General Manager.

Emily Parker has been announced as the new General Manager, who will take over the running of GWP Correx, the specialist returnable packaging division of the wider GWP Group.

Emily will be replacing Managing Director Ian Cook, who is retiring from the business.

Emily originally joined GWP in 2014 as a sales administrator. The company say she has since undertaken a number of roles – gaining a broad and extensive knowledge of the company and markets it operates in – following a series of promotions.

Her new role, alongside managing the existing team, will also cover strategic planning, further developing customer relationships and promoting the evolving range of products that the business designs and manufactures.

Emily will also be responsible for the GWP Conductive, the UK’s largest manufacturer of anti-static packaging, and is part of the Macfarlane Group Leadership training programme.

Emily said: "I'm really excited to be starting this role, to both develop the strong customer base and continue the growth in sales that we have seen over the past couple of years.

"I’m confident there is a real opportunity to showcase the sustainability benefits many businesses could achieve by switching to returnable rather than single-trip packaging."

Ruth Cook, Managing Director for GWP Group, commented: "Emily has proven herself as a real asset for the business and this is the logical next step from a strategic point of view. I'm certain she will bring the energy, ideas and dedication she has already demonstrated over the past eight years to her new role."

GWP Correx specialises in returnable containers that can be used within supply chains, as well as picking bins and systems for eCommerce fulfilment operations. The division grew by approximately 30% in the previous financial year.

The wider GWP Group, which became part of Macfarlane Group two years ago, says it has also seen positive performance over the past 12 months.

GWP Group currently employs around 100 people across two sites in Wiltshire (Cricklade and Salisbury), designing and manufacturing a wide range of bespoke packaging products.

The wider Macfarlane Group comprises more than 1,000 employees, with annual sales of c£264m across the UK, Europe, and US.