Vanda Murray OBE
Appointed April 2006
Vanda Murray has over 20
years’ experience at a senior level across a range of industries in
the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA.
After graduating with a BA (Hons) in European Business
Administration and a French Business Diploma from Reims Management
School, France, Vanda joined ICI’s graduate trainee scheme and her
career progressed with International Marketing roles with GTE Inc,
BET plc and Expamet plc.
In 1991, she joined PAC International Ltd, a high tech
electronics manufacturing company, where she became Managing
Director. During her tenure sales doubled and profitability
quadrupled. Exports grew to 40% of turnover. The business won many
awards, including a Best Factory Award in 1998 and Marketing and
Customer Service Awards in 1998 and 2000.
From 2001-2004, she was CEO of Blick plc, a FTSE quoted
international Group of manufacturing and installation businesses.
In the two years to December 2003, she doubled the market
capitalisation of the business on the London Stock Exchange as she
refocused the business on higher value differentiated products and
restructured the Group. In February 2004, she sold the business to
The Stanley Works Inc, a US corporation and then spent six months
overseeing the post-acquisition integration strategy.
From 2004-2006, she was Managing Director of Ultraframe (UK)
Ltd, prior to its sale to Latium Group Holdings in July 2006.
Vanda now holds Non-Executive Directorships with Carillion plc,
The Cheshire Building Society and the North West Regional
Development Agency where she is Deputy Chair Elect. She is also
Non-Executive Chair of Eazyfone, a mobile phone recycling
company.
She was appointed OBE for services to Industry and to Export in
2002.
She has not taken part in any political activities in the last
five years and holds no other ministerial appointments.Board
sub-committee involvement:
- Member of the Enterprise & Skills Sub-committee
(Chair)
- Member of the Business Link Task and Finish Group
- Member of the Marketing, Communication & Tourism
Sub-committee
- Member of the Development & Infrastructure
Sub-committee
- Member of the RES Maximising the Potential of the Workforce
Group (Chair)
- Member of the NW Manufacturing Strategy Group (Chair)
- Member of the Northern Way
- Member of the North West Business Leadership Team
Vanda Murray
- Register of Interests 2007/8