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.”
About Biesterfeld
Biesterfeld SE is the holding company of the Biesterfeld Group, one of the international leading distribution and service companies in the field of polymers, rubber, specialty chemicals and ingredients. Founded in 1906 in Hamburg, Germany, today the group has more than 1100 employees across more than 50 locations in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa and generates an annual revenue of 1.29 billion EUR (FY 2024). The fully family-owned company focuses on specialized market know-how, application-based technical advice and services and offers comprehensive product portfolios across numerous industries in the business units Standard Polymers, Engineered Polymers, Performance Polymers, HealthCare, Consumer, Industrial and Rubber.
