An industry expert with more than 35 years of manufacturing experience, Dobson will lead all the group’s operational functions including manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain.
Prior to joining Highland Spring, Dobson held a number of transformational leadership roles across the food, pharma, electronics and construction sectors.
Commenting on Dobson’s appointment, managing director Simon Oldham said: “I am delighted to welcome Paul to the Highland Spring Group team. Paul joined us last year on an interim basis and in a very short space of time has made a hugely positive impact on the business.
‘Grow our operational capabilities’
“He brings an immense wealth of knowledge and experience which will enable us to continue to improve, enhance and grow our operational capabilities to meet the growing demands of retail partners and consumers for healthy, high-quality, British products.”
Formed in 1979 by the same family that owns it today, Highland Spring is a Scottish supplier of natural source bottled water from protected, organic land in the Ochil Hills.
Earlier this month, the group secured term and revolving credit facilities of £50m from its funding banks, the Bank of Scotland and Barclays, to help accelerate the evolution of the brand as its progresses towards its stated ambition of £200m sales by 2030.
Dobson added: “I am both delighted and excited to be joining Highland Spring Group which is a really special business with enormous potential and talented teams.
‘The next level’
“I look forward to collaborating with those teams to take the company to the next level of improvement, and further growth to ensure its sustained success into the future.”
Meanwhile, Melt&Marble, a developer of precision fermented fats used in meat analogues, has appointed biotech veteran Tue Hodal as its first-ever chief technical officer.
As Melt&Marble scales up its production processes, Hodal will be tasked with optimising bioprocesses and downstream operations for large-scale, economically sustainable production.
