Universal Products

Meet The Team

Mike Peters

Managing Director

Although he began his career as an accountant, Mike Peters has always been interested in manufacturing, and in 1976 at the age of 21 he founded UPL to manufacture a small range of pharmaceutical and toiletry products. The first year’s turnover was £79,000 and with a constant focus on quality and systems and a lot of hard work, it has grown into the successful business it is today.




Tony Mayhall MSc MBA MIBiol

Technical Director

Tony joined UPL as Associate Director, Quality Assurance having worked for Unilever for 22 years where he gained extensive supply chain experience. Joining Lever Brothers as a microbiologist Tony then worked in Manufacturing before moving to Elida Gibbs. With responsibilities for Microbiology and Quality Systems Tony also became a Qualified Person for the release of Medicinal products and completed an MSc in Pharmaceutical Quality and GMP. Tony then moved to Logistics with responsibility for inbound supply and Supplier Management and then managed Contract Packing for Lever Faberge. In 2003 Tony qualified with an Executive MBA.

Tony is a member of the Society for Cosmetic Scientists and has participated in CTPA Microbiology and GMP sub-committees. He was recently promoted to the position of Technical Director.


Joanne Senior

Operations Director

Since joining UPL in 1986 Joanne rapidly climbed the management ladder and used her background in chemistry and microbiology to help set up UPL’s first microbiology lab in 1988 and the first development lab in 1990. Since then Joanne has managed the development lab, the technical aspects of the manufacturing process, problem solving in bulk manufacture and process validation. Joanne was recently promoted to the position of Operations Director.




Damian Stroud

Commercial Director

Damian has over 25 years experience of purchasing raw materials, componentry and packaging, and of managing the sub-contract manufacturing requirements for a number of major high street brands within the toiletries and pharmaceutical industries. He has worked in small family run businesses as well as large multi nationals such as Henkel, and he also has valuable general management experience from his time as General Manager for Umberto Giannini Hair Cosmetics. Damian changed from customer to supplier when he joined UPL in 1999 and he was recently promoted to the position of Commercial Director.




Ian DeHavilland

Associate Director Production and Plant

Ian joined UPL in 1980 and was actively involved in setting up the initial filling line installation and with all subsequent packing line equipment sourcing, purchasing and installation. He has invaluable experience across production, warehousing, engineering and personnel management, and he played a key role in managing UPL’s move to their current purpose built site in 1995. Ian’s current position is Associate Director Production and Plant and he is responsible for warehousing, engineering, manufacturing and production.


Jane Harmer

Associate Director Product Development

With over 37 years of experience in both product and business development roles, Jane brings an invaluable breadth of knowledge to the UPL Management Team. Since her early days in the 1970’s in the toiletry development labs at Reckitt & Colman through to her time both forming and running Harmer Personal Care, she has maintained her love of developing new products and working with customers to identify ways to expand and improve the personal care sector.

As a qualified chemist and Member of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists Jane has technical knowledge as well as commercial experience which gives her a unique perspective for her role as Associate Director of Product Development at UPL.


Keith Voyle

Associate Director Customer Services

Keith has worked in the Contract Manufacturing arena for over 30 years as both a customer and a supplier, and he is experienced in all aspects of the Supply Chain. Keith joined UPL’s management team in 1991 after contract manufacturing roles within the agro chemicals, horticulture and pharmaceutical industries. Keith’s current position as Associate Director of Customer Services encompasses all aspects of  ‘exceeding customer’s expectations’  from business development initiatives, to ensuring that customers receive high quality products and services from UPL.

 

Tim Buck

Company Accountant

Tim’s experience of running the accountancy functions in both small privately owned companies as well as in larger businesses such as Coats Viyella means that he is well positioned to manage the financial performance of UPL. He is currently the Company Accountant for UPL having joined the business in 1989.