Siemens chief appointed to help drive EEF economic policy
Release date: 20/11/2003
EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation has announced that Alan Wood, Chief Executive of Siemens plc, has been appointed to chair its Economic Policy Committee.
The appointment of one of the UK’s leading industrial figures will add extra impetus to EEF’s expanding role as the leading authority on manufacturing issues. It also recognises the increasing regard in which the organisation is held in addressing areas such as productivity, skills and innovation, crucial to improving the UK’s productivity performance and where EEF has carried out major studies in recent years.
Commenting on the appointment, EEF Director General, Martin Temple, said:
"We are delighted that someone of Alan’s calibre and standing will be able to help drive our policy work. I know he will bring valuable international insight to the work that we do and make a major contribution to addressing some critical issues in our dialogue with government and other stakeholders."
Alan Wood, Chief Executive of Siemens, added:
"Manufacturing may have taken a pounding in recent years but it remains a crucial part of the British economy, representing around a fifth of our GDP and more than 60% of exported goods. I look forward to working with EEF to make sure the voice of UK manufacturers is heard and to playing my part in persuading government to create the right policy framework for British manufacturing, helping us to turn the corner and flourish again."
ENDS
Author: Mark Swift
Date: 17/11/03
Appointed Chief Executive of Siemens in April 1998, Alan Wood is responsible for the overall management, strategic development, and co-ordination of Siemens' UK businesses, which employ over 18,000 people. Alan has a first class honours degree in mechanical engineering from Manchester University and a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University.
EEF, ‘the manufacturers organisation’, has a membership of 6,000 manufacturing, engineering and technology related businesses. Comprising 12 regional Associations, the Engineering Construction Industry Association, and UK Steel division it is one of the UK’s leading providers of business services in health, safety and environment, employment relations and employment law, world class performance, education, training and skills.
EEF’s Economic Policy Committee is comprised of senior executives from large, small and medium size companies across its membership. It also has observers from the DTI, Treasury and Bank of England.
Photographs of Alan Wood are available.