Joe Read has been appointed Managing Director of Biesterfeld in UK & Ireland, effective March 1, 2026. He will succeed Guy Payne, who will step into the role of a long-term advisor.
Joe brings a wealth of experience from the British and European engineering polymers industry, having held senior roles in sales, commercial leadership and strategic marketing at companies including DuPont, Delrin and EMS-Chemie. He also has deep roots in the composites industry, having successfully led a distribution company with his father for several years.
Joe says: “I am very excited about this new opportunity to actively support the next phase of Biesterfeld’s development in the UK and Ireland. Biesterfeld is a well-known player in the British polymer industry, and I am eager to build on this success and further develop the business step by step.”
Stephan Glander, CEO of Biesterfeld SE, comments: “With Joe, we have gained a highly experienced manager, to develop our business and drive growth through strategic thinking and deep technical knowledge. He brings a broad and versatile range of experience and will undoubtedly take our business to the next level. I also want to take the opportunity to thank Guy Payne for his outstanding contribution in positioning and developing Biesterfeld in the UK and in Ireland in the last 20 years.”