‘We’ve gone so far but we have so much further to go’, declared Paul Hussey, Chief Executive Officer of Strix, when he hosted a reception and dinner to celebrate the one billionth kettle control unit leaving the Strix production line.
Held at The Nunnery in Douglas on 1st July, the event brought together past and present directors, employees, customers and suppliers from around the world; a suitably international event for a company with a global presence selling its products in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Addressing his guests, among whom were Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul Haddacks and Lady Haddacks, Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK and Education Minister Anne Craine MHK, Mr Hussey expressed his pride in the company’s Manx origins, Strix having started life in 1951 as Castletown Thermostats, founded by Eric Taylor.
In 1982 Strix was born and now enjoyed, said Mr Hussey, ‘a global footprint’ as the world’s largest manufacturer of kettle control units, with a presence in the Isle of Man, United Kingdom, Belgium, Russia, China and Hong Kong, and a workforce of some 750 people worldwide.
Mr Hussey attributed much of the success of Strix to its people and the company’s ‘relentless pursuit of innovation’ embedded in its culture, a combination that would, he said, see the wider application of the company’s skills lead to Strix becoming defined as ‘a global consumer technology solutions provider’.
‘Innovation is our lifeblood’, he said. ‘We’re not resting on our laurels. At Strix there is a constant flow of innovation and we’re always new seeking global partners.’
Mr Hussey said as CEO his role was to ‘maintain the company’s trajectory of growth.’ China presented major expansion opportunities, Strix having set up a factory in Guangzhou in 1997 and produced its 500 millionth control in 2003.
Mr Hussey went on to say that despite its global profile Strix recognised the vital role the Isle of Man continued to play in the company’s growth and he praised the ‘prolific capability’ of the Isle of Man operation.
A ‘new world of opportunity’ had come with the global launch of Aqua Optima water filters in 2005 and by the end of this July the five millionth cartridge will have left the Strix production line.
The worldwide economic downturn would not, said Mr Hussey, impede Strix’s growth. ‘We’re not waiting for the markets to improve, we’re growing ahead of the markets. The future holds greater promise yet.’
Since his appointment as CEO in November 2008 Mr Hussey said he been ‘so impressed by the calibre of talent’ across the business that he was inspired to introduce the Strix CEO Awards for Excellence, ‘for those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty’.
The first three recipients to receive their awards from the Chief Minister were Vince Garvey, who had been with Strix for more than 20 years and was responsible for patenting 10 inventions; Ann Long, ‘a cornerstone’ of the Isle of Man manufacturing operation and Joe Szeto, held in high regard for his commitment to customer service.
Congratulating Strix on its milestone achievement Chief Minister Tony Brown said he was proud of the company’s Manx foundations and its enduring close affiliation with Castletown. He had witnessed the company grow, achieve four Queen’s Awards, expand across the globe and gain 70 per cent of the world kettle control unit market.
Mr Brown praised the company’s ‘innovation, enthusiasm and commitment to its employees’ and was pleased Strix had never lost sight of its Manx roots. Strix was, he said, a key part of the Island’s manufacturing sector and a demonstration of the Island’s diverse economy.
As a footnote, when speaking just a few days before the celebration, Mr Hussey said there would always be a role for Strix’s Isle of Man operation, given the ‘embedded knowledge and skill sets’ that existed in the Island.
He added ‘Our people in the Isle of Man have a history that cannot be replicated.’
Pictured: Paul Hussey, Chief Executive Officer of Strix
