A FAMILY-owned chemical firm based in Cross Hills has just promoted a manager to the role of procurement director.

Tony Howell, who has been with Airedale Chemical since 2010, will join the five-strong board of directors.

He worked in sales before launching the company's procurement department in 2015 to help re-structure the business, and has joined the board to further support the company’s diversity strategy and strengthen supplier relationships.

Managing director Chris Chadwick said: “Tony created and developed our procurement department with exceptional success, adding significant value to all aspects of our company.

“I would like to congratulate Tony in joining the senior team and look forward to working closely with him to continue developing the company.”

Airedale Chemical's procurement department manages supplier relationships, product commercials and forward planning on sourcing.

Tony, who will continue to manage the procurement department, said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been promoted to director. I relocated my family from the Midlands for the position here, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact.

“Our department’s biggest immediate challenges include global manufacturing site closures, which can narrow our supplier pool, and of course, the increased complexity of importing products and the management of raw material prices.”

Airedale Chemical was established in 1973 and provides chemicals and contract manufacturing to markets including agriculture, dairy, water treatment and waste management.