Clive Wheeler

Clive has been in international operations management for over 30 years. A chartered Mechanical Engineer since 1974 he has implemented major growth and improvement programmes in the Lighting and Automotive sectors. He gained the Factory of the Year award in the early 1990’s at Thorn Lighting.

Clive joined ThyssenKrupp Automotive as Operations Director in 1993, where he worked on the implementation of an organic growth programme.

As Managing Director of Concord Lighting, Clive directed a turnaround plan which transformed a declining and loss-making business into a profitable and growing enterprise. Following a restructuring of Strategic Business Units within Sylvania Lighting, he was appointed to General Manager of Sourcing and Logistics for European Operations, where significant cost savings and lead time reductions were achieved – mainly through working with suppliers in Asia, where he maintains a supply chain network.

More recently, he has worked as a consultant and interim manager supporting new companies operating in the lighting industry. His work covers setting up logistics and business systems; and the creation and implemention of action plans to support company growth.

He returned to the North East as Site Director for Gestamp Tallent’s manufacturing plant in Co Durham.