60 SECONDS MAY 2019
60
seconds
with...
QAs a child, what did you want
to be when you grew up?
AAs a child and even through my
14
A-Levels I wanted to become a medical
doctor. I was fascinated with the scientifi c
aspects of medicine but also liked the
caring side of it. At the time of university
selection I didn’t apply for medicine due to
the length of the course – but then ended
up doing a PhD in engineering, which took
even longer! I still fi nd medical science
fascinating, though.
QHow did you get into the industry?
AI applied for the graduate programme
at ICI, which at the time was one of the
best graduate programmes going. I enjoyed
the structured programme, which gave me
lots of opportunities to try diff erent jobs
and in parallel provided core management
and business training. That gave me an
excellent foundation for my career.
QWhat do you like most about UK
manufacturing?
AManufacturing is great because you
make things and see the results of
your eff orts being used and appreciated
by your customers across the globe.
Manufacturing is not easy, and the industry
is constantly faced with challenges that as
a business you have to overcome. Good
manufacturing businesses in the UK
demand excellent people to be creative and
innovative in order to stay one step ahead
of the competition.
QHow do you think manufacturing
is perceived by people outside of
the industry?
AIt’s fair to say that manufacturing
has not got the exciting profi le that
today’s young people are necessarily
looking for, but when they enter the sector
they often fi nd it so much more engaging
and fun than offi ce-based jobs. I feel it is
collectively our duty to change that initial
perception and encourage more excellent
young people to enter the sector.
QWhat has been you biggest
accomplishment – either in or
out of work?
AOver my 30 years in the company,
I’ve helped grow the business in some
of the more specialist areas in our sodium
bicarbonate and salt businesses. These
products are used in specialist applications
such as haemodialysis and pharmaceuticals
and are now being exported to over 60
countries in the world. In my new role
I am leading an unprecedented level
of investment in growth of innovative
products supported by a shareholder which
takes a long term view of manufacturing
in the UK. It’s very satisfying to be part of
this growth journey.
QHow do you spend your
spare time?
AI love spending time with family and
friends socialising. There is nothing
CV:
Jan 2019 to present: Projects director,
Tata Chemicals Europe (TCE)
Mar 2015-Dec 2018: General manager for
Salt & Sodium Bicarbonate, TCE
Mar 2012-Feb 2015: Business development director
Pre-2012 : Head of operations and business
development roles
Education: PhD in engineering from Manchester
University
better than a day of cooking and having
large gatherings of loved ones.
QWhat’s the secret to a successful
future for UK manufacturing?
AIn the UK we are not blessed with
the cheapest cost base in the world
so, to succeed in this competitive and
global world, the manufacturing industry
needs to be innovative in everything that
it does and be resilient and to do that
we need to attract the best talents and
minds. Government policy also needs to be
supportive of manufacturing’s needs, which
require a longer-term perspective to attract
more investment.
QOne thing you may not know
about me is….
AI am not interested in the past… I
always look to the future and have a
very long list of things that I want to do
at work and home.
LADAN IRAVANIAN
projects director, Tata Chemicals Europe
My favourite food:
anything with rice
It’s what I grew up on
My favourite
holiday
destination:
Tuscany
The scenery,
culture, weather, food
and wine are all amazing
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My favourite fi lm:
The Martian
It’s so upbeat,
showing that with a
bit of thought most
challenges can be
overcome
My favourite book:
the book I am reading
at the time
I love variety
A few of my
favourite
things... How
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