Mike Baunton, President of Perkins Engines Company Ltd, has
today been announced as the next President of SMMT. He succeeds Nick Reilly
CBE, Chairman of Vauxhall Motors, on 22 July 2002 leading the motor industry
trade association for the next 12 months in the centenary year for the Society.
Commenting on the announcement at the Society’s Annual Test
Day at Millbrook Proving Ground, Mike Baunton said, ‘I am delighted and honoured
to take on the influential role as President of SMMT for the coming year. There
has never been a more demanding time for the motor industry as it faces the
challenges of increased customer expectation, regulatory pressures, and a particularly
difficult UK manufacturing environment.
‘SMMT has for the last century been the voice of the motor
industry and I have the ambition to strengthen its role in helping to make the
UK an increasingly important part of the world component and vehicle industry.
This is vital at a time when the members of the SMMT are under significant economic
and regulatory pressures. We will be seeking ways to help our members expand
their businesses and become more competitive, not just in the UK, but on the
world stage. Partnership with government is essential, not only in delivering
higher levels of engineering and manufacturing skills, but also to encourage
more process improvement and cost reduction, and helping to create, in the UK,
the most attractive economic and political environment to design, manufacture
and sell motor vehicles.
‘I want to thank Nick Reilly for his significant
contribution and positive role during his term as President, particularly as
the motor industry faced significant challenges through new regulation. SMMT
has a very strong team led by Chief Executive Christopher Macgowan, and I look
forward to working with them during my time in office to continue to provide
higher value and enhanced services to the membership.’
* * * * *
Notes to Editors
- Mike Baunton is President of Perkins Engine Company Ltd
and of FG Wilson Ltd. He is a Vice President of Caterpillar Inc responsible
for the Compact Power Systems Division, which has UK-based employees and sales
of over £1 billion. The Division manufactures over 1000 diesel engines
each day.
- Mike started his career at Automotive Products in Leamington
Spa as a Mechanical Engineer and holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and
MA in Business Analysis. He became Manufacturing Director at Quinton Hazell,
and then moved on to Compair Broomwade before joining Tenneco Inc. At Tenneco,
Mike was Managing Director of Monroe Shock Absorbers in Australia then was
promoted to Managing Director of Monroe Europe, based in Brussels. In 1993
he was promoted again to President of Walker Manufacturing based in Chicago.
Walker is also a Tenneco company and is the world’s largest manufacturer of
exhaust systems.
- Mike joined Perkins in 1995 and has led the company under
the ownership of Varity Corporation, then Lucas Varity plc and since 1998,
as a Caterpillar company. Beyond his role within Perkins, Mike has been Chairman
of the SMMT International Committee, and Chairman of SMMT Industry Forum.
He is also on the Supervisory Board and Economic Policy Committee of the EEF
and is an Ambassador for the NSPCC ‘Full Stop’ Campaign. Mike is married with
two young sons and lives in Lincolnshire.
- Recent SMMT Presidents include:
2002- 2001 Nick Reilly CBE
2000-2001 John Neill CBE
1999-2000 Sir Ian Gibson CBE
1998-1999 Trevor Bonner CBE
1996-1998 Ian G McAllister CBE
1995-1996 George Simpson (now Lord Simpson)
1994-1995 Peter T Ward
1993-1994 Geoffrey Whalen CBE (now Sir Geoffrey Whalen CBE)
1991-1993 Colin Hope (now Sir Colin Hope)
1990-1991 Derek Barron
- The late Frank Perkins, founder of F Perkins Ltd was SMMT
President in 1956-1957.
- Current issues facing the motor industry such as competitiveness,
e-commerce, End of Life Vehicles, UK manufacturing, sustainability and Block
Exemption all affect the SMMT and its members. Those members are a cross-section
of the industry, from car and commercial vehicle makers to component and aftermarket
sectors.
