New Managing Director for Watts Industrial Tyres

Watts Group of Lydney has announced that Mr. Jean-Paul Mindermann, who has managed the European subsidiaries for the past ten years, will succeed Mr. Doug Pearson as Managing Director of Watts Industrial Tyres PLC on 1st June 2006.

Mr. Pearson, who has been Managing Director of Watts Industrial Tyres since 1990, will support Mr. Mindermann in his new role before taking on the task of developing the Watts business in the USA. Mr. Pearson will also continue with his other Group duties.

Watts Industrial Tyres is a dedicated specialist supplier of Industrial Tyres and Wheels, which are distributed worldwide through agents and the company’s own subsidiaries in France, Germany and the USA. Manufacturing, formerly based in the UK, is now carried out overseas in the Chinese, Sri Lankan and Brazilian factories. The company also has a network of service centres throughout the UK and in Europe.

Mr. Pearson said: “I am delighted that Jean-Paul has taken on this role, as I know that under his leadership Watts Industrial Tyres, which is already a key player in the international Industrial Tyres and Wheels market, will continue to develop.”

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. John Thurston, Chairman of the Watts Group of Companies, said: “Jean-Paul is the perfect candidate to lead Watts Tyres into the next phase of the company’s development in the global marketplace. He has considerable experience in the industry and demonstrates the ideal blend of skills to take the business forward.”