3M, which has a manufacturing site at Aycliffe, has appointed its first female managing director for the UK and Ireland region.
Christiane Gruen was previously managing director of the diversified technology company’s Alpine region covering Switzerland and Austria.
3M is a strong supporter of the UK Government’s ‘Your Life’ campaign to encourage greater participation among women in the career choices of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Christiane Gruen’s own career embodies that spirit.
After graduating as an engineer in food technologies, she joined 3M in 1984 as a technical assistant in her native Germany and went on to hold a number of positions of increasing responsibility in the drug delivery systems and health care markets businesses.
As managing director for the UK and Ireland, she now leads 2,900 employees across 19 locations, including nine manufacturing sites. Among the products manufactured at its Heighington Lane plant at Aycliffe are respirators for worker safety and a range of products for the vehicle aftercare market.
“I spent part of my earlier career at the company’s Loughborough site working in inhalation drug delivery and I’m very pleased to return to the UK,” she said.
“The UK and Ireland one of the largest 3M subsidiaries outside the USA and I am looking forward to playing a full role in the ongoing success of the business.”
Christiane Gruen has taken over as managing director from Paul Keel, who has moved to another senior role with 3M based in the USA.
