11 September 2024
Global newsCiNER Glass appoint new Chief Executive as European operations progress
CiNER Glass has appointed Gokhan Sen as the new Chief Executive of CiNER Glass UK to help oversee the company’s expansion plans across Europe.
Mr Sen has been appointed to run the day-to-day operations for Ciner Glass in Europe as the company’s glass plant projects in Belgium and Wales continue to progress. Mr Sen will report directly to the Chair of CiNER Glass, Mrs Didem Ciner.
CiNER Glass UK is currently working to build two new state-of-the-art glass factories to help increase its glass production capacity and help serve the European market. The first glass plant will be situated in Lommel, Belgium, and involves a €650 million investment to supply the European beer, wine, soft drink and mineral water market to key European partners. Construction is progressing at speed with the site expected to be completed by 2026.
Meanwhile, the company is hoping to build a new glass container manufacturing facility which uses recycled glass at the Rassau Industrial Estate, north of Ebbw Vale. The project would be one of the largest investments in South Wales for decades and would look to supply glass bottles to UK food and beverage producers. Following the approval of planning permission in 2022 to build the glass container manufacturing facility, Ciner has been progressing site works at the plant’s location while also engaging with suppliers across Wales.
Gokhan Sen has been promoted to the position of Chief Executive of CiNER Glass after several years working as the Lead Co-ordinator for the company’s European projects, helping to oversee the planning application process, setting out and progressing project timelines while also developing key relationships with customers and partners across both Wales and Belgium.
He will be supported by Nicholas Hall, who has taken on the role of Chief Financial Officer for CiNER Glass UK. Mr Hall, a former managing director at JP Morgan, joins with over 27 years of capital markets and strategic advisory experience. He has worked closely with WE Soda for the last five years and has been involved as a lead advisor in all of the company’s most important strategic projects. He will be based in London and report to the CEO to help develop, implement and monitor the progress of each project.
Mrs Didem Ciner, Chair of CiNER Glass Ltd, said:
“Mr Sen has been instrumental in helping to progress our ambitious expansion plans in Europe as we work towards building a world-class facility in Europe. His experience at the CiNER company, expertise and leadership will be vital as we take the next step and begin working on making our vision to be one of the leading glass suppliers across Europe a reality.”
CiNER Glass is a family-owned business with its European operations headquartered in the UK. In just over a decade, the company has grown to become an industry leader in glass making and has ambitious plans to expand its presence across Europe, with proposed developments in both South Wales and Belgium.