People: IPP; Lifecycle Oils; Wither & Rogers
A pooler of sustainable wooden pallets has promoted one of its most trusted supply chain professionals to a newly created senior leadership role.
IPP, which has its UK headquarters in Coventry, has promoted Demi Crabbe to senior commercial development manager.
Crabble, who has been with the business for 14 years, will report to regional managing director Andy Maddock as part of the new role, which is focused on driving growth across the UK.
The position covers all areas of the commercial spectrum, including commercial contracting, commercial accounts and commercial services.
She will be responsible for the strategic development of the business, ensuring alignment with group, divisional, regional and country objectives while delivering a market-leading customer experience.
Crabble said: “This new role is a great opportunity for me to oversee key commercial aspects of our operation, driving growth in the business alongside retaining our existing customers and ensuring they receive the high levels of service they are accustomed to.
“It’s a people-focused role, working with our team of experts in supporting strategic growth. By being part of all strategic aspects of the business, from budgets to forecasting, I will be contributing towards delivering the company’s long-term vision.”
Crabble will work closely with Shelley Pierre, who was recently promoted to European commercial network director from her role as UK commercial director.
Andy Maddock, regional managing director for IPP UK said: “Demi is a hugely respected and trusted member of the team with a long track record of delivering for the business. This new role will play to her many strengths and give her responsibility for building, leading and developing a team of experts within the UK.”
Cooking oil collection, recycling and green fuel generation specialists, Lifecycle Oils, has appointed a new leadership team as part of its ongoing investment, expansion and growth programme.
Adam Thompson, the former chief financial officer of Lifecycle Oils, has been promoted to CEO, while Graeme McFaull has become non-executive chairman.
Joining them are transport and recycling specialist Mark Mansfield, who becomes operations director.
Oils and fats business development specialist, Suzanne McKenzie, has joined as the new sales director and experienced CFO and COO Adam Thompson was brought into the business in September 2024.
Thompson has an excellent track record in driving growth and scaling businesses across multiple industries, including energy and logistics, engineering and manufacturing.
New Chairman Graeme Mcfaull has spent more than 25 years in the European logistics and food industry.
The former CEO of UK-listed logistics business Wincanton PLC, he has also held senior finance roles at both PepsiCo and Cargill. Graeme is also the current chairman of both Delin Property and Suttons Group.
Thompson said: “We have ambitious plans to become a key player in the UK renewable energy market by transforming yesterday’s cooking oil into tomorrow’s green energy. With nationwide coverage, expansive capacity and our new state-of-the-art production facility in Wednesbury, Lifecycle Oils is perfectly positioned to meet growing domestic and international demand for greener biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels.
“Our mission is to support the transformation of the UK energy system for the benefit of people and the planet. To achieve this, we’ll drive sustainable growth by expanding our nationwide collection network, diversifying into new areas of the food industry, developing our waste oil collection service and building further production capacity.”
Simon Adcock, managing director and co-fund manager of the Gresham House Sustainable Infrastructure ‘BSIF’ funds said: “We are delighted to welcome Graeme, Suzanne and Mark to our portfolio company Lifecycle Oils, and to announce the promotion of Adam to CEO. Lifecycle Oils is a rapidly growing business and will be a key player in the UK biofuel production supply chain, helping the UK Government to meet its ambitious targets for the sector. We are pleased to have attracted, and be working with, such a high calibre management team.”
Harry Strange, one of Wither & Rogers’ experts on matters of software engineering and AI-related patentability, has been promoted to partnership at the European IP firm.
With a doctorate in machine learning and a background in software engineering, Strange joined Withers & Rogers from a role as a module coordinator for various courses in advanced technologies at University College London in 2017. He also held a research fellowship in biomedical image analysis.
Since qualifying as a patent attorney in 2022, Strange has advised numerous blue-chip clients as well as smaller entrepreneurial businesses on how to protect their intellectual property and commercialise their innovations globally. He has specific knowledge of the complex issues that can arise for companies using GenAI and machine learning to innovate or those seeking to protect their GenAI outputs, and he supports them in building a robust IP portfolio.
Fiona McBride, Chair and Partner at Withers & Rogers and a member of CITMA said: “Harry has a natural ability to get under the skin of his clients, to understand the technologies they are developing and the methods used. This has made him a trusted IP partner and an inspirational contributor to the firm’s expanding AI group.
“With data analytics and AI modelling so widely applied across industry sectors, businesses increasingly need to understand what they can and can’t protect commercially and how to go about it. Harry’s background in AI and machine learning makes him the perfect guide and his commitment to knowledge sharing internally has enriched our consumer electronics and computer technology teams.”
