A world class team
Simon Clothier (CEO) leads a world-class manufacturing and trading team
Partnership
With so much potential to access across the world, the business’s success depends on making partnerships work. Web partners in South Africa, research and development teams in the US, drawings management in India, assembly in the UK and a global accredited distributor network are all coordinated by a mobile UK-based team.Culture
The FireChill approach to building a high performance team is based on a few simple rules, common values and shared goals:-
- Quality time on culture and strategy is always well spent
- Seek talented people; only the best, no compromises
- Customer is mostly right and always king
- Everyone must know where the company is going and why
- Strive to be first – always
- Get tough on politics and the causes of politics
- Communicate continuously; always on
- Unshakeable belief that whatever the problem, there is a always a way through
- Sweat, no tears
- Spend time on rest, fun and laughter in equal measure
- Zap not sap
Simon Clothier (CEO)
Simon Clothier (CEO)
Simon is an entrepreneurial, energetic CEO with a demonstrable track record of starting, growing and running profitable businesses. His extensive and wide-ranging experience in business growth has been acquired in a range of environments from start-up to established multi-national blue-chip. Simon spent formative years marketing with J Sainsbury and at IBM and since then has used his entrepreneurial skills to run a number of successful businesses. In 2002 Simon was a regional finalist in the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2004 was 11th in the national Sunday Times FastTrack 100. As CEO, Simon has responsibility for FireChill’s vision, strategic direction and delivery of the business plan. His passion for sales and marketing and for all things green is a driving force. Simon will seek major world-wide opportunities through partnership and acquisition to bring about step-changes in growth. Simon is founder of Food Energy Water for All, an organisation which promotes critical emerging technologies to countries and communities.
Nick Williams (Chief Financial Officer)
Nick Williams (Chief Financial Officer)
A highly experienced senior financial professional with an outstanding track record of strong financial management and profit maximisation, Nick has over 25 years senior financial experience and has operated at Board level in both plc and private equity-backed businesses. Nick is an excellent communicator who brings much more to the business and a range of experiences gained outside the financial disciplines.
Ron Soka (CTO and Inventor)
Ron Soka (Chief Technology Officer and Inventor)
A science, mathematics and physics graduate, Ron has spent 30 years evaluating technology opportunities. He has designed, developed and managed new manufacturing operations and enjoyed hands-on financial and administrative responsibility for start-ups as well as multi-million dollar operations. He has extensive product development experience and his technical background allows him to easily interface with high level R&D and business executives. Ron has lived and breathed the FireChill technology for the last 10 years and his technical appreciation of gas absorption is extensive. FireChill is his brainchild. Based in the US, Ron’s primary role is to set technology strategy, advise on all aspects of technology and manufacturing, as well as act as the global technology spokesperson. He supports the UK-based Technology Team which will have day-to-day responsibility for executing the technology support and development plan.
Howard Atkin (Head of Technology Development)
Howard Atkin (Head of Technology Development)
A degree educated engineer with over 30 years experience in developing and manufacturing high technology products for the consumer and industrial markets. Howard is a practical engineer and exceptional product designer with a passion for manufacturing. He has extensive expertise in IP and has created over 60 patents to support the development of key technologies. Howard’s experience has been gained across the automotive, construction, energy storage, renewable, heating and white goods industries, from companies including ADD Power Technologies, Baxi Heating and ADM Indux. As Head of Technology Development, Howard is responsible for developing and delivering the entire spectrum of technology services, in support of an innovative range of cooling products.
Vince Middleton (Manufacturing Director)
Vince Middleton (Manufacturing Director)
With a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and a BSc in Computer Aided Design, Vince has a sound educational background and a wealth of practical experience in manufacturing best practice. He has a unique breadth of understanding having been involved in the nuclear, defence, aerospace, oil and gas, automotive, rail, marine and food and drink sectors for many years. Vince’s clients include blue chip organisations such as General Electric, Westinghouse, BNFL, MBDA, Bombardier, Cummins, Caterpillar and British Aerospace. Vince sets FireChill’s manufacturing direction and is ultimately responsible for ensuring product is made complete, correct and on time. He also interfaces with FireChill’s Technology team to ensure he can respond readily to the ever-changing demands of the FireChill product family.
Paul Butler (Manufacturing Manager)
Paul Butler (Manufacturing Manager)
A highly-skilled, apprentice-trained electronics engineer, Paul has a wide range of experience in manufacturing and engineering management. He is well-versed in bringing new products into production and is accomplished in design for manufacture, new product introduction, production and process development, large team management, maintenance and support and continuous improvement activities. His experience has been gained within global technology companies whilst working on high value projects. He also has experience in robotic assembly. Paul is responsible on a day to day basis for the performance of the FireChill manufacturing team, for the quality and reliability of the product and for ensuring that he fully understands implications of the NPD programme.
Ian Watson (Project Director)
