Keith Norton has been appointed as head of PA Consulting Group’s global manufacturing industries practice. He will be leveraging his skills and experience gained over 13 years in PA, primarily in the areas of human resources and change management consulting. Keith aims to further strengthen PA’s presence in the manufacturing sector globally, building on the significant experience and client satisfaction for which PA is renowned, particularly in the defence and aerospace, automotive and consumer electronics; food and fmcg, and primary materials areas.
Keith takes over from Bernard Eccles who has been in a practice head role for six years. The change is a result of PA’s policy of rotating people in and out of management roles to keep them in touch with the market and keep their professional skills sharp. Bernard is now focusing on sales and business development within manufacturing industry in general, and within the defence and aerospace sector in particular.
Two new recruits to the practice are Mark Sealy and Richard Stuart:
Mark Sealy has been appointed as a member of PA’s management group to spearhead a product introduction service focusing mainly on the automotive sector. Mark joins PA from CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) where he was head of new product introduction consulting UK. His experience prior to that includes roles as operations manager with Lucas Engineering and Systems, and various engineering roles within Lucas Automotive.
With considerable experience of new product introduction practices, particularly in large engineering programmes, Mark specialises in concurrent engineering in its broadest sense, and has supported programmes in rail, coach, tractor, automotive, aerospace (civil and defence), mining, consumer electronics, industrial testing, high voltage equipment, and domestic product companies. His work with PA will focus on large multi-project or multi-location programmes, and possible uses of internet technologies to improve virtual collaboration. Mark is a Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and two of the projects he has worked on have won Management Consultancy Association awards.
Richard Stuart joins PA as a managing consultant - also from CSC where is was group leader e-procurement - and is an experienced purchasing and supply chain professional with a broad range of consulting and line management experience. He is a specialist in the emerging field of electronic procurement and is experienced in the development and implementation of procurement strategy, organisation and systems as an integral part of supply chain reengineering.
Richard’s role at PA will focus on the development and implementation of supply chain strategy for clients, with particular emphasis on the impact of electronic procurement.
With over ten years consulting experience, Richard has successfully undertaken and managed manufacturing, retail and service supply chain projects in a range of industries including; aerospace, automotive, building products, fashion, food, grocery, IT, medical equipment, paper, printing, and public sector.
In his role as Director of Purchasing and Logistics with Premdor Crosby Ltd, Richard gained substantial hands-on line management experience of purchasing, manufacturing and distribution within a global business.
Welcoming Mark and Richard to PA, Keith Norton said: "I am very pleased that Mark and Richard have chosen to join PA. I look forward to working with them, adding value both to our clients and to the bank of PA expertise and insight in the global manufacturing sector".
