THE managing director of a York injection moulding business is to retire next January after 28 years with the company.

Brian Mann, 67, has been managing director of Rosti McKechnie Ltd, which employs more than 700 people at its bases at Stamford Bridge and Pickering, for 13 years.

A tool maker by trade, Mr Mann has spent his entire working life in the plastics industry, starting his early career at Birkby’s before moving on to McKechnie.

He joined as plant manager of the Pickering site in 1985, becoming group managing director in 2001. He built the McKechnie Plastics Group up to a £82 million turnover business, which was bought by Swedish company Rosti last summer.

A proud Yorkshireman, Mr Mann has also been an outspoken and passionate supporter of the UK plastics industry, and he was appointed president of the British Plastics Federation (BPF) in 2002.

He is currently honorary treasurer of the federation, and was awarded its gold medal for service both to the federation and to the plastics industry in 2010.

Barry Coughlan, chief operating officer, said: “We are delighted that Brian will continue to work with Rosti McKechnie over the next year; a year which offers marvellous opportunity.

“Brian has had a truly remarkable career with a formidable reputation within the industry and leaves Rosti McKechnie in a very strong position.”

Mr Mann said: “I am leaving at an exciting time, with tremendous opportunities for the future. The company will be in excellent hands, a very special time in the company’s history.”

Current BPF president Philip Watkins said “Brian Mann is unique, a great champion of the manufacturing cause and the finest type of British industrialist.

“His straight-talking style and his wisdom, borne of long experience, have been invaluable in helping the BPF confront difficult issues.

“He correctly forecast the industrial downturn of 2008 and made sure that the federation itself was well prepared to resist the cold winds blowing around the economy.”