HULL: Ideal Standard International's vice president of its West Europe region, celebrates 40 years with the company this month.
Roger Cooper joined Ideal Standard in 1970 as an assistant to the publications officer. From there, his career moved him into product management and then in 1980, he was appointed as marketing director for the UK and to the executive board.
In 1987, he became sales and marketing director and was subsequently appointed managing director of the UK and Ireland in April 1994. He assumed his most current position in 2007.
Mr Cooper has been instrumental in transforming the bathroom industry with Penthouse colours and then in contrast the Whisper range of pastel colours, as well as playing a major role in the discontinuation of the avocado bathroom suite and seeing the company through the acquisition of Armitage Shanks from the Blue Circle Group in 1999.
Yvonne Orgill, chief executive officer of the Bathroom Manufacturers' Association commented: "Roger is one of the cornerstones of our industry. It was his enthusiasm, motivation, encouragement and leadership that inspired other manufacturers to see the benefits of the Association and swell the ranks of the BMA to become the voice of the bathroom industry."
Mr Cooper's extensive knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the industry has seen him in many key positions, being a twice past president of the BMA, formerly the BBC (British Bathroom Council), as well as President of the NHIC (National Home Improvement Council). He was central to keeping an industry body alive by being instrumental in creating the reformed BMA.
He won the Special Achievement award for the KBB Review Industry awards in 2008.
