Houghton UK (www.houghtonintl.com) has announced two changes to its European management structure, alongside the addition of a new European-wide business development department.

Based in Manchester, the company is an international manufacturer of industrial metal-working fluids, automated fluid maintenance management machinery and metal-working analytical software, supported by five R&D laboratories around the globe.

Lee Bowditch, formerly commercial and country director for the UK and Ireland, has been appointed EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) business development director for Fluid Intelligence Solutions, while Matthew Bartle moves up from UK sales director to commercial director, UK and Ireland.

Mr Bowditch said: “Products are core to what we provide, but Fluid Intelligence will articulate the supporting functions around the sale of our products that we can now provide.

"Fluid Intelligence will be a consultancy service that gives our clients access to our combined company-wide expertise, our numerous levels of fluid maintenance management services, and our advanced chemical and equipment portfolio.”

Supported by a team of European-wide business development managers, Mr Bowditch and his team will be supporting Houghton country directors and their national departments with operational consultancy services.

“It will be our job to help new and existing customers to reduce their overall costs and drive operational efficiencies through consultancy, trial and training, while also helping to cultivate opportunities around fluid management and the installation of new equipment.”