INGSTONE ASSOCIATES
Ray Stone
Ray has 45 years manufacturing experience working in the steel and Nickel Alloy industries across Europe. Until recently, he was a Director of Special Metals Corporation looking for new business opportunities for the UK and US businesses. Ray led the UK team restructuring the Wiggin business and working with the US management team taking them out of Chapter 11 Protection in 2003. Wiggins turnover increased by 100% and was able to pay off the restructuring debt and generate cash to fund a significant capital expenditure program at the Hereford Plant. Ray has been involved in a number of business turn round and business improvement projects over the past 35 years and is a keen advocate of LEAN. He has also brought new business to the various plants he has managed focusing especially on added value opportunities.
Having recently retired from Special Metals, he is now setting up a small consultancy business to help companies improve their business performance based on his past experience and successes.
As well as being selected for the Hereford Business Board, Ray is a Non Exec Director of Hereford Futures, Chair of the Hereford Chamber of Commerce Area Council, VP and member of the Board of Hereford & Worcester Chamber of Commerce, a Governor of a local School and Trustee of the local Village Hall Committee. Ray is also a Council Member of Special Metals Forum based in Rotherham that represents major metals manufacturing companies across the UK.
Ray Stone