Universal Products

Meet The Team

Mike Peters MBE

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.
Joanne Senior

General Manager

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, manufacturing department, technical transfer of formulations, problem solving in bulk manufacture and process validation. Joanne was recently promoted to the position of General Manager and she is now responsible for all aspects of Production, Manufacturing, NPD, Quality and Health & Safety.Damian Stroud

Director

Damian has over 28 year’s industry experience having managed 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 now has overall responsibility for the Purchasing, Packaging Technology and HR areas of the business.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 40 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.Sean Peters

Associate Director Business Development

Sean joined UPL in 2000 and has gained valuable experience across numerous departments including manufacturing, production, maintenance and the warehouse, before moving into the customer service team in 2006.

He has worked with a wide range of companies from larger multi nationals through to new business start -ups. His experience to date gives him the breadth of knowledge required for his role as Associate Director for Business Development where he is responsible for end -to -end customer care from initial sales through the project management process and ongoing account management.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.

John Jefferson

Lead QP

John is a chemistry graduate with 38 years experience in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries. He has been a Qualified Person (QP) for the release of medicines since 1979.

John has worked in both small and medium sized privately owned companies supplying the NHS and large High St retailers, and he has valuable experience in a number of roles in including Formulation Development, QC Laboratory management, Regulatory Affairs and Audit and Quality Assurance roles. John joined UPL as Lead QP in April 2013.

Chris Rotheram

QA Manager /Qualified Person

Chris joined the UPL management team in 2011 as QA Manager and he is also a Qualified Person for the release of Medicinal products. Chris achieved Chartered Chemist status in 1998 and became eligible to act as a Qualified Person whilst working at Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd (Manufacturers of Fisherman’s Friend). Having joined them in 1977 as a lab assistant, he went onto work in QC, QA and IT as well as acting as a QP. Chris uses his wealth of analytical chemistry experience to help manage and support the Chemistry Analytical Laboratory at UPL.