BRITISH CERAMIC CONFEDERATION

Federation House, Station Road, Stoke-On-Trent, ST4 2SA

Tel: 01782 744631 Fax: 01782 744102 email bcc@ceramfed.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 2^nd March 2009

NEW HEAD OF CERAMICS INDUSTRY TRADE BODY

On 1^st March Dr Laura Cohen takes up her appointment as Chief Executive of the British Ceramic Confederation.

Laura Cohen, 44, has already been working alongside the BCC team for six months, having been appointed Chief Executive-designate in September 2008. During that time, she has familiarised herself with BCC member companies, not only in North Staffordshire but throughout the UK, visiting many potteries, brickworks and other ceramics production facilities to review the scope of the industry and learn at first hand of the issues it faces. Laura has also established many productive contacts with business and civic leaders in North Staffordshire, and with politicians and civil servants, both in UK government and the European Commission, whose own briefs impact upon the ceramics industry. She is now looking forward to dealing with the many challenges that the role of Chief Executive of BCC presents and to applying her experience in the development of pragmatic solutions to the issues facing BCC member companies.

Laura, a Chartered Engineer who gained her PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgy at Cambridge University in 1988 is also a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. She brings to her new role considerable experience of building and leading networks within UK and European trade associations and professional bodies, and has served as a British Standards Institute spokesperson on European standards making committees. Additionally, in January 2006, she was a representative of the pharmaceutical industry on a UK Cabinet Office Better Regulation task force concerned with labelling regulations for medicines. Such external appointments complement an impressive track record of pioneering new practices that have realised substantial cost benefits for her previous employers, the global research-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Laura, who enjoys walking and bridge, is married with a son.

Ian Dudson, President of BCC, said “Laura is joining the BCC at a challenging time but all Board members and member companies join me in wishing her every success in her new role”

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Notes to editors

Dr Cohen will be available for interviews during the week commencing 2^nd March (excepting 4^th March)

The British Ceramic Confederation is the lead body for the UK ceramic manufacturing industry, representing the common and collective interests of all sectors of the industry. Its 100 member companies cover the full spectrum of ceramic manufacture, including the supply of materials, and plant and machinery, and comprise over 90% of the industry’s manufacturing capacity.

A full list of members of the British Ceramic Confederation is available on request.

For further information please contact:

Dr Laura Cohen, Chief Executive, British Ceramic Confederation, Federation House, Station Road, Stoke-on-Trent. ST4 2SA.

Tel: 01782 744631. Fax: 01782 744102. E-mail: kevinf@ceramfed.co.uk.