Paul Mason

Name: NORDELL
Address: Dominion Way, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8NW
Telephone: +44 1903 235 765

Managing Director

Coming from an engineering background in automotive and connection sectors, Paul joined Nordell in 2002 and managed a series of significant business changing projects along with an acquisition in 2006 through to leading the MBO in early 2013. Through energised and committed development and strengthening team structure, with particular attention to investment in people, Paul and the Nordell team are continuing the development of Nordell for world class manufacturing.

Q&A's

Q :

How long have you worked in the plastics industry?

A :

It started with my apprenticeship 29 years ago when I moved from a small local Toolmaker's to join an Automotive supplier as an apprentice — one of their specialities was Injection Moulding.

Q :

What sectors have you previously worked in?

A :

Outside my time served in the automotive sector, I've spent 24 years serving and providing solutions to a large number of sectors including Autosport, Electronics and Consumer Products, Defence, Audio, Industrial and Manufacturing, Medical, Energy and Renewables, Construction, High Voltage, Health, Education, IT and Communication, Water, Food and Drink, and Oil and Gas.

Q :

What do you love about your job?

A :

For me, the most satisfying element is the working with and supporting motivated people and achieving great things, whether this is within the Nordell Team, with our clients or with suppliers.

Q :

What's your proudest achievement in your career so far?

A :

It would have to be the MBO of Nordell in March 2013, 11 years after starting as Operations Engineer.

Q :

What do you think is the biggest change you have seen in the industry over the years?

A :

I would this in two. Firstly, I would say IT, the IOT, its communication, along with software for design realisation, and the global business platform has transformed the industry several times over. Secondly, and not so obvious, is the discovery that throwing rulebooks away and identifying new innovative ways to achieve goals – "the competitive edge and the best bits are still to come".

Q :

Describe a typical day for you.

A :

I spent around half my day in supporting and managing effort. I like to keep in touch with what's working and what isn't, how people are and what obstacles and challenges we have, finding and encouraging how we overcome these undesirables to support our great team. This also extends to customers and supply as I see that the whole process is ultimately the performance objective and it needs to stay in sync. Beyond this a typical day for me will also include some thinking and action time on strategic plans along with communication and networking; this I find the most difficult element for me and "once as Engineer, always an Engineer" I will often find myself being distracted with what I find easier, a technical challenge or new engineering project involvement for example.

Q :

What makes Nordell different?

A :

This has and will only ever be down to people and culture. Our competitors can buy the same equipment we have, but they don't have us or the working dynamic we've created.

Q :

Where are you from?

A :

I was born in Portsmouth and have moved several times whilst growing up and in my working career. Most of my time has been living in the surrounding suburbs of Bognor Regis and we are very happy there as a family.

Q :

Tell us three interesting facts about you.

A :

I love adventure, activity and a challenge. I proposed to my wife, Clair, when we were at Everest Base Camp. We've climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and we've both mountain-biked the Anti and the High Atlas Mountains among other challenges together.

2) I love downhill mountain-biking, snowboarding, and keeping a level of fitness through martial arts practice — although I often feel older afterwards.

3) I can't spell for toffee. My spellcheck struggles to guess what I'm trying to type, and I have to resort to using alternative words, and I seem to be physically unable to write on a whiteboard in a straight line.