Encirc Managing Director, Adrian Curry has revealed that he will step down from his role after 19 years at the helm of one of the UK’s largest glass manufacturers and bottle fillers.
Current Finance Director, Sean Murphy will assume the role of Managing Director, on an interim basis, until a successor is appointed. Sean has been with the company for 19 years having worked previously with Coca Cola.
Adrian commented: “I have decided to resign from my position as Managing Director of Encirc. After 27 years with the business and 19 years as MD I have been so privileged to have worked with such truly genuine, honest, and talented people.
“We have shared many challenges along the way but most importantly, many more successes. Today the business is leading in all areas, has a clear strategy for the future and is very well invested. I am delighted to hand over to Sean Murphy, our current Finance Director, who has worked with me since I became MD and is certainly the right person to lead the business through the next chapter.
“I will step back from my role on December 31 and will remain in an advisory capacity for the first quarter of 2024 (until March 31). From that point I look forward to the many new challenges that life will bring!
“I wish everyone in Vidrala well for the future and I will certainly miss the Encirc people. Our purpose “Great People, Great Place and Great Future” remains something I believe in and I know Sean and the wider business in Vidrala will be resolute in its pursuit of this.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Adrian has been with Encirc from the very beginning when the new-start business was formed by Sean Quinn in Derrylin as Quinn Glass, beginning production in 1998. He was appointed Managing Director in 2004 and has led the growth of the company ever since to the position of being a major player in the European glass manufacturing sector. The company celebrated 25 years in business this year.
Under Adrian’s leadership, vision and drive, Encirc has grown considerably, now encompassing four sites in Derrylin, Northern Ireland; Elton, Cheshire and Bristol, England and Corsico, Italy. Encirc now employs over 2,200 people, manufactures 4 billion glass containers and fills 90 million cases of wine every year.
The Corsico plant in Italy was brought into the Encirc business in 2017, from the Vidrala Group (which owns Encirc and employs 5,000 people). This came after Vidrala had expanded and acquired the SB Vidros container glass plant in Portugal.
The Park, a bottling facility based in Bristol, was purchased earlier this year by Vidrala, successfully led by Adrian and now fully integrated into the Encirc family.
In 2023, Encirc launched its world-leading mission named ‘ZE30’, which sees Encirc working to decarbonise for the future. The company was among the first to realise that a sustainable future will also mean a successful future for the business.
Adrian has also navigated the company through challenging times following the fall of the Quinn Group, after the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. He helped secure the business’ future after the sale of the company to Vidrala in 2015 and sat on the Vidrala executive committee. He then led the company through the Covid-19 pandemic and energy price crisis in 2022.
In 2014, the company was rebranded Encirc with its 360 ethos of manufacturing, filling and distributing its glass bottles unique to the industry.
Adrian is a board member and former President of the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation. He is also on the boards of Glass Futures; the UK Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA); and the North West Business Leaders Team. In 2022 Adrian was presented the Award for Outstanding Cheshire and Warrington Business Leader, at the High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise.
Encirc’s standing within the industry was recognised on many occasions with a number of top awards including being crowned British Glass Company of the Year on two occasions, Diageo Global Supplier of the Year, Northern Ireland Responsible Company of the Year and Sustainable Company of the Year.
