Crown Paints Appoints New Director

Mike Polkinghorn, former Vice President Operations of Ronseal and Sherwin Williams, the world’s largest coatings company, has been appointed as Production and Logistics Director at Crown Paints Limited. Polkinghorn joins the Crown Paints board as part of a major restructuring programme at the Lancashire based decorative coatings company following its recent buyout from Dutch conglomerate Akzo Nobel, backed by private equity house Endless LLP. 

Crown Paints Chairman Graham Hallworth said: “This is the start of a new era for Crown Paints as an independent coatings manufacturer. The appointment of such a senior industry figure, who joins us from an $8billion turnover business, should leave no-one in any doubt whatsoever of our total commitment to forge a new future for the company.” “Crown Paints is an excellent long established business with strong brands, a committed workforce and market leading technology and manufacturing competences,” he added. “However, it has been operating as a subsidiary of multinational company for well over a decade and if we are to succeed as an independent business we now need a shift in management thinking. “Our aim is to become more efficient and more successful and that means we have to nurture a more entrepreneurial, dynamic culture throughout the organisation. Mike Polkinghorn brings a wealth of invaluable experience and expertise to Crown Paints and he will play a key role in helping to achieve these objectives and steering a new course for the company. We are absolutely delighted to have him on board.” Prior to becoming VP Operations at Ronseal and Sherwin Williams Polkinghorn spent four years running European Operations for International Paints, a division of Akzo Nobel and a further three years as General/ Plant Manager at global healthcare company, Baxter International Inc.