Chris Rea OBE

Managing director of AESSEAL -Chris started out manufacturing precision engineered mechanical seals for pumps at a Rotherham workshop in 1981 with just five staff, his business AESSEAL has now grown to a company with 1,268 employees, operating from 73 locations in 34 countries. Market coverage is global – 85 countries – with the USA accounting for more than a third of export sales. Overseas sales have increased by 107 per cent since 2003, and today around 80 per cent of its entire production is sold overseas. Last year the business achieved the £100 million annual sales milestone for the first time, capping 30 consecutive years of uninterrupted sales growth. Chris is now focussed on driving the business forward and developing AESSEAL the next generation.