John Forsyth is now leading the management team at Ex-Or, the lighting controls company recently acquired by Honeywell.John had been working alongside managing director Neil Jones during the process of integrating Ex-Or into Honeywell's Electrical Devices & Systems division. As the new general manager, following the retirement of Neil, John is now spearheading an ambitious investment in Ex-Or which will mean further expansion of the lighting management company.
John moved to Ex-Or from the Electrical Devices & Systems division of Honeywell where he was responsible for business development and strategy, focussing on merger and acquisition targets.
Said John: "Neil Jones and his team successfully built Ex-Or up into the market leading company it is today. It was Ex-Or's success in the marketplace - coupled with its strong portfolio of products - that brought Ex-Or to Honeywell's attention."
John is now implementing an 18 month investment plan that will see a significant increase in its manufacturing capacity in Haydock, drawing on Honeywell's electrical manufacturing capability and expertise. Under John's stewardship there will be an increase in the number of people employed by Ex-Or and a further boost to its R & D and new product development programme. There are also ambitious plans to take Ex-Or into new international markets.
Meanwhile, the Ex-Or staff at Haydock have said farewell to Neil Jones. Neil joined Ex-Or in 1999 as business development manager, later becoming sales director, and was appointed managing director in 2003. He has been a heavyweight in the lighting business for the last 40 years. Before joining Ex-Or he had a long career at Thorn Lighting, culminating in him setting up their lighting controls division.
At his leaving ceremony in Haydock, Neil joked: "Whenever I'm asked what I do for a living I say I spent the first 20 years switching lights on and the last 20 years switching lights off."
Now that he is retired, Neil plans to devote more time to playing golf and overseas travel.
