A NEW site director has been welcomed to the Dow plant in Barry.

Eduardo Gadea will be responsible for the running of the plant in Barry, as well as directing the company’s operations throughout the UK and Ireland.

Having joined Dow in 1984, Mr Gadea’s most recent position within the company was Production Leader for the hydrocarbons plants in Tarragona, until relocating to the Vale.

He holds a Master of Science in Industrial Chemistry qualification from Universidad de Alicante, Spain and is a certified black belt.

Vale MP Alun Cairns visited the plant to welcome Mr Gadea on his first week at the Barry plant.

Andrew Jones, the president of Dow in the UK and Ireland, and Kepa Diaz de Mendibil who is relocating from Barry to Schkopau in Germany to assume his new role as global director of operations and site Director for Dow Central Germany, also attended the meeting.

Mr Cairns said: “I have met with the team responsible for Dow Barry many times over recent years and I am very pleased to hear that they are continuing to provide apprenticeships for local aspiring engineers.

“Whilst it is a shame to lose Kepa Diaz de Mendibil, it is a pleasure to welcome Eduardo Gadea to the Vale of Glamorgan where I trust he will continue Kepa’s great work.”

Mr Gadea added: “I am delighted to take the reins from Kepa as site director for Barry’s Dow plant. With Brexit on the horizon, I look forward to working with Mr Cairns to ensure that our site can continue to thrive through frictionless trade with other nations.”