Our people are at the heart of our business.
Proud, committed and passionate, our employees are fundamental to everything that we do and everything that we are.
We value everyone working at Portals.
Meet some of the team and see what they themselves have to say about working here:
Ross Holliday
Chief Executive Officer
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Ross Holliday
Chief Executive Officer
Ross Holliday is our Chief Executive Officer. Ross led the private equity backed management buyout of the business from De La Rue. Prior to this Ross spent 9 years at De La Rue, including leading the paper manufacturing operations since 2013. His career spans the global paper industry, including tenures at Arjowiggins, UPM, Caraustar and SAPPI in various roles. Ross has a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manchester.
Jean-Baptiste Rancon
Chief Financial Officer
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Jean-Baptiste Rancon
Chief Financial Officer
Jean-Baptiste is our Chief Financial Officer and has recently led the acquisition of our security features business in Italy. Jean-Baptiste is a highly experienced corporate financier and has previously worked at De La Rue as well as at Morgan Stanley in London. Jean Baptiste has a Master’s degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Paris in France as well as a BFP qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Laura Wheeler
Chief Commercial Officer
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Laura Wheeler
Chief Commercial Officer
Laura Wheeler is our Chief Commercial Officer with a focus on developing and maintaining strong commercial relationships with customers and partners, as well as defining and implementing the long term strategy for Portals. Laura has worked in the currency industry since 2012.. Prior to this, Laura worked in the IT sector and latterly was working with global assessment organisations to understand how technology might support high stake assessments.
Matt Weaver
Manufacturing Director, Banknotes
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Matt Weaver
Manufacturing Director, Banknotes
Matt is the Manufacturing Director at our Overton paper mill which manufactures the paper for circa 12 billion banknotes per year. Matt’s 18 years of experience in the banknote manufacturing sector, including 3 years as the Operations Manager for the Sri Lankan banknote print plant, a joint venture between the Sri Lankan Ministry of Finance and De La Rue, means Matt has personal knowledge and understanding of the technical requirements of our security print customers.
Andrew Nash
Managing Director, Bathford
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Andrew Nash
Managing Director, Bathford
Andy is the Managing Director of our High Security Paper business based at the Bathford, the largest dedicated passport paper mill in the world. Andy has focussed his entire career in the paper industry having worked for Arjo Wiggins and Inveresk prior to joining the Bathford team in 2005. Decades of papermaking and manufacturing operations experience means our customers have a safe pair of hands to rely on.
Luca Cimatti
Manufacturing Director, Security Components
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Luca Cimatti
Manufacturing Director, Security Components
Luca Cimatti is the Manufacturing Director for our security components manufacturing site in Bollate, on the outskirts of Milan. With 18 years of experience in quality management, Luca took over the leadership of the site in early 2019, and in recent times has been instrumental in the sale of the security features business from Fedrigoni to Portals. Although not instrumental to day to day operations of the Bollate site, Luca also holds two professional sommelier qualifications.
Carla D’A (Milan)
Commercial & Logistic Dept
What does that mean you actually do?
Customer liaison from initial receipt of the offer to fulfilment of orders including shipping and any follow up activities.
How does that benefit the customer?
By meeting their needs quickly and complete every request in the shortest possible time.
How long have you worked for Portals?
Since 2005.
What do you like best about working here?
I like to interact with people from different Countries, listen to their requests and try to satisfy them in totality.
Why are you proudly Portals?
I am proud to work in an international context that allows me to develop more skills and the relationship between colleagues is very good.
Richard W (Bathford)
EHSS Manager, Bathford Mill
What does that mean you actually do?
Take the lead on keeping our sites and our people safe and secure, from providing Personal Protection Equipment to working with EHSS Enforcement Bodies and everything in between!
How does that benefit the customer?
Provides confidence and assurance that our unique papers are produced securely and without exposing our people to unacceptable risks.
How long have you worked for Portals?
Since 2012.
What do you like best about working here?
Being a part of the Bathford family, we work well together and support each other.
Why are you proudly Portals?
We are a unique business and world leaders, I think that is pretty impressive!
Francesco B (Milan)
Production and Development Manager
What does that mean you actually do?
I am responsible for production and the delivery of development projects at our Milan site.
How does that benefit the customer?
I work to give the customer quality and compliant products in the time requested and to improve manufacturing processes and overall product appeal.
How long have you worked for Portals?
Since 2003
What do you like best about working here?
Meeting customer challenges, product engineering and the processes optimisation.
Why are you proudly Portals?
We are a very strong team and have a leading role in the security feature market.
Harriet P (Bathford)
Regional Director – Security Paper Sales, Bathford
What does that mean you actually do?
I have the privilege of looking after our security paper customers and their requirements.
How does that benefit the customer?
My sole purpose is to ensure that we are aiding and meeting our customer requirements, supporting them however necessary.
How long have you worked for Portals?
Since 2015.
What do you like best about working here?
Both the product portfolio and the people are absolutely fascinating.
Why are you proudly Portals?
The widespread ethics and motivations of Portals and our people is why I am proud and love working for Portals. I am proud to represent the values that are enshrined into everything we do here and pass them onto our customer base.
Nick P (Bathford)
Product Design Manager
What does that mean you actually do?
I manage the Portals Design Team and the introduction of new products to our mill. This includes new product requests our customers bring to us and also the development of innovative new security features and manufacturing processes.
How does that benefit the customer?
The customer can be reassured they are getting high quality, but most importantly, the highest security products. Whatever the end product or use, our motivation is ensuring the customer has a secure document, not onlyfit for purpose but also as a token of pride for citizens.
How long have you worked for Portals?
Since @ 2000.
What do you like best about working here?
The many skilled individuals we have here, all working together and creating a great team dynamic. It’s a unique industry with brilliant people.
Why are you proudly Portals?
The team dynamic and the pleasure of being a foundational part of something so much bigger than us.
