New boss for Bayer MaterialScience in UK

Newbury, UK - Seamus Gillan has been appointed to head up Bayer MaterialScience for the UK and Ireland region. He takes over from Martin Sixsmith, who retired at the end of 2008 after a career spanning more than 31 years with the company.

Gillan joined the Bayer Group in 1987 as a sales representative for Northern Ireland, before being seconded into the Chemical division's Dublin office in 1990. He took over as manager of this division in 1997 and has been with the company through its transition to Bayer Polymers, and finally, Bayer MaterialScience in 2004. 

He holds an honours degree in chemistry and business studies from the University of Salford, a diploma in marketing management from the University of Ulster and is currently finishing an MBA from Henley College.

"Bayer MaterialScience has a well established, solid business with excellent products and a strong customer orientation," said Gillan. "However, there are many challenges to face not least the current economic downturn in the UK and Ireland which impacts our major customers, notably in the construction and automotive sectors. Our key objectives must be to stay close to our customers, be flexible to change, adapt structures where necessary and seize opportunities as they come our way."