British Glass announces leadership changes and strategic restructure

Dave Dalton, Chief Executive of British Glass, has confirmed his retirement after four decades of dedicated service to the glass sector. Dave will step down as CEO at Christmas and will continue to support the transition process in the coming months, with full retirement anticipated by March 2026.

Alongside Dave’s retirement, British Glass and its technical subsidiary, Glass Technology Services (GTS), will implement a new operational structure following recent board discussions and consultation with members. While the two organisations have historically shared senior management, back-office support and consolidated finances, they will now operate as fully independent entities.

Effective 2 January 2026:

• Glass Technology Services (GTS) will become a standalone business, continuing to be wholly owned by British Glass, which will act as shareholder. Gareth Jones will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of GTS, stepping away from his current position as Operations and Commercial Director at British Glass.
• British Glass will maintain its role as the industry federation, with Dr Nick Kirk continuing to lead the Federation team.

These changes are designed to provide both organisations with greater agility and focus, ensuring they can deliver maximum value to their respective stakeholders.

Dr Nick Kirk commented:
"British Glass remains focused on representing and supporting our members across the UK glass manufacturing sector. Our priority is to ensure the industry’s voice is heard on key issues such as sustainability, decarbonisation and innovation, while continuing to provide the guidance and support our members rely on."

Gareth Jones added:
"This is a challenging time for the glass industry and as GTS we are committed to continuing to support the whole supply chain – from providing confidence in glass products through accredited testing, to helping the industry innovate by being a trusted R&D partner. We deliver projects at an affordable scale to provide tangible results and insights, developing a route to upscaling and pilot trials while continuing to work closely with the British Glass team."

Dave has been a driving force in the glass industry since the early 1980s. An analytical chemist by training, Dave began his career in the analytical chemistry laboratories of British Glass Industry Research Association (BGIRA), focusing on glass and raw material analysis. His expertise and passion for innovation saw him progress through roles in Glass Technology, Glass Melting and Production, before becoming Technical Director and Research Lead for Glass Technology Services Ltd in 2001.

As CEO of British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation and its technology arm, Glass Technology Services, Dave has led the UK glass industry’s representation in the political arena for the last 15 years. He has been instrumental in shaping policy and driving sustainability initiatives, working closely with BEIS on the Industrial Strategy agenda. His leadership has influenced countless committees, working groups, and review panels at both UK and EU levels.

Dr Nick Kirk added:
"Dave has played a pivotal role in shaping the UK glass industry. We thank Dave for his outstanding contribution and wish him the very best in his retirement."