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A conversation with Paula Birch , Group Managing Director at Parkside Flexibles

Tell us about your career history , and its evolution to your current role ? I ’ ve been at Parkside for over 25 years now . I started in customer service , before working in account management and then various senior sales roles , becoming Sales Director in 2016 . I spent nearly five years in that role before moving to Malaysia to become the General Manager of Parkside Asia , where I helped establish our Kuala Lumpur site as a major player in the APAC region .

This experience helped me transition into my current role , which is MD of our global business . To say I ’ m Parkside through and through would be an understatement ! It ’ s been an incredible journey that has shaped me into the person I am today . During my time here , Parkside has grown into a truly global business , and I ’ m proud to have played my part for so many years .

Focus on Parkside and highlight where your role fits in the business ? Parkside is an innovative flexible packaging solutions provider specializing in sustainable materials – mainly paper , monopolymer films , and compostables . We ’ ve developed market-leading technical expertise , particularly including our ParkScribe™ laser scribing technology capabilities , and we ’ re supported by a strong global supply chain . This means we can create innovations that no other flexible providers can , and we pride ourselves on providing solutions , no matter how complex the challenge !

My role as MD is to lead the growth of the business by setting our long-term strategy and future focus . We have enjoyed some strong results in what have been tough trading times over the last few years , and ultimately my job is to ensure that this can continue .

What is at the top of your agenda at the moment – new products / investments / expansion for example ? Packaging is a fast-evolving business , so our innovation pipeline is always near the top of the agenda . This enables us to ensure we are hitting our customers ’ packaging goals , whether that ’ s sustainability , consumer convenience , pack functionality or shelf standout .

As our business grows on two continents , expanding our sales team in the UK and Asia

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