11-Mar-2010

News Release 

Immediate Release – 11 March 2010

Roger Cooper Celebrates 40 Years with Ideal Standard

HULL, UNITED KINGDOM – Ideal Standard International, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, today announced that Roger Cooper, Vice President of its West Europe region, has celebrated 40 years with Ideal Standard this month.

To celebrate the milestone, a surprise lunch was held at Ideal Standard International's head office in Hull on 1st March. Roger's family attended, along with many of his friends and colleagues from Ideal Standard.



 Cooper joined Ideal Standard on 2 March 1970 as an assistant to the Publications Officer.  From there his career moved him into Product Management and then in 1980, he was nominated Marketing Director for the UK and was simultaneously appointed to the Executive Board. In 1987, he became Sales and Marketing Director and was subsequently appointed Managing Director of the UK and Ireland in April 1994. Cooper assumed his most recent position as Vice President for Western Europe in 2007.

Cooper has been instrumental in transforming the bathroom industry with Penthouse colours and then in contrast the Whisper range of pastel colours, as well as playing a major role in the discontinuation of the avocado bathroom suite and seeing the company through the acquisition of Armitage Shanks from the Blue Circle Group in 1999. 

"Roger's made a fantastic contribution to Ideal Standard since he joined the company 40 years ago, which has been recognized across the industry. His support, investment and bid to raise the standards in style over the years have attracted world famous designers and architects into the bathroom industry and helped make Ideal Standard the world class company it is today. He is a fabulous leader and puts his succClick and Clean. The lower wheels and panels can be released to expose the for thorough cleaning. Panel then easily clicks back into position to ensure a water tight seal.ess down to the support and strength of his team. Congratulations Roger", said Stephen Rounce, HD Director for Ideal Standard. 

With a career spanning 40 years, Cooper has pioneered bathroom design in the form of Ideal Standard's Studio range, which has been in continuous production and sold in excess of 10 million pieces since the 1980s.  He was instrumental in appointing Robin Levien Robin Levien RDI is one of Britain’s most consistently succClick and Clean. The lower wheels and panels can be released to expose the for thorough cleaning. Panel then easily clicks back into position to ensure a water tight seal.essful product designers of the last 25 years. In 1999 Robin set up Studio Levien with his wife Tricia Stainton to design domestic products for leading companies all over the world. He was made non executive Design Director of Ideal Standard in the UK in 2003.as Ideal Standards non executive design director and has worked closely with Levien for over 25 years.  Cooper believes that Levien has been crucial to Ideal Standard International's succClick and Clean. The lower wheels and panels can be released to expose the for thorough cleaning. Panel then easily clicks back into position to ensure a water tight seal.ess. 

Yvonne Orgill, CEO, BMA (Bathroom Manufacturers Association) commented, "Cooper is one of the cornerstones of our industry. It was his enthusiasm, motivation, encouragement and leadership that inspired other manufacturers to see the benefits of the Association and swell the ranks of the BMA to become the voice of the bathroom industry, now recognized by Government officials. Cooper led the field for the development and implementation of the world's first industry led voluntary Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme which later went on to win a major Eco Award."

Cooper's extensive knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the industry has seen him in many key positions, being a twice past president of the BMA, formerly the BBC (British Bathroom Council), as well as President of the NHIC (National Home Improvement Council).  Cooper was central to keeping an industry body alive by being instrumental in creating the reformed BMA.

Cooper won the Special Achievement award for the KBB Review Industry awards in 2008. 

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For more information or imagery please contact:

The Ideal Standard Press Office

Hill & Knowlton Tel: 0207 413 3242

Email: idealstandard@hillandknowlton.com

About Ideal Standard:
As Europe's leading bathroom brand, Ideal Standard's goal is to create a life space that reflects personalised well-being. The brand follows three main philosophies: design, functionality and innovation. Ideal Standard is the flagship brand of Ideal Standard International.

About Ideal Standard International:
Ideal Standard International is a privately-owned company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operating independently in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. With bathroom solutions as its core business, the company provides bathroom furnishings, fixtures and shower enclosures for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Its products are sold under its strong international brands Ideal Standard, Jado and American Standard (Asia/Pacific and Incesa), as well as leading local brands including Incesa Standard (Incesa), Armitage Shanks and Sottini (UK), Ceramica Dolomite (Italy), Porcher (France and Incesa) and Vidima (Eastern Europe).  The company employs over 17,000 people and is operating in over 30 countries.