Patrick Austen

Bio

Over 30 years of general and line management experience. Has led organisations through financial and operational turnarounds, as well as profit improvement and business expansion programmes. Began his career in the textiles industry and spent 23yrs with ICI plc, latterly as commercial manager of the fibres division. Was chief executive and chairman of specialist floor care appliances business Vax, which has risen to become the UK market leader. Until 2000, was chairman (UK) of CRBFL a private investment trust prior to which he spent 3 years as chief executive of luxury retailer and textile manufacturer Liberty plc. Spent ten years as group chief executive of BTR Consumer Products Group where he successfully restructured the group into a single global organisation.