Renfrew-based Teknek which in November last year bought the lighting firm J & G Coughtrie Ltd, and in January was expanding in the US, promoting itself in Europe and by March exhibiting in Shanghai, is likely to keep Nicolson (right)  on his toes.

With an MA in Modern History and Politics from University of Dundee and a postgrad diploma in Russian Language from Glasgow, Ruaridh Nicolson has extensive international sales and marketing experience being previously sales director at Payne Security specialising in brand security and anti-counterfeiting technology.

Prior to that, global sales, marketing director and customer services Nicolson was manager for Cerulean, the manufacturer of precision test, measurement and handling equipment to the tobacco, dental hygiene, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

“Teknek ... is the global leader in its field and is a highly innovative and dynamic organisation,” says Nicolson.  “The company has excellent capabilities in terms of technical expertise and international resources and has ambitious plans for growth.  I look forward to contributing to [its] continued success and growth.” 

Stephen Mitchell, Teknek MD added: “Ruaridh has extensive international sales and marketing experience in high growth organisations which matches our profile of being an international centre of excellence in yield improvement technology. 

"He will be a real asset to the marketing team and an integral part of our plans for future sales growth.”

Teknek with 2008 revenues of £15m are based at Inchinnan Business Park in Renfrew. It is part of the THGroup,  that comprises MicroClean lead supplier of static control solutions to a number of industries; Mekall  the manufacturing services division with locations in Inchinnan, Blantyre and Irvine undertaking contract manufacturing services and MESO Design,  set up in 2008  to provide high quality product design taking projects from idea and conceptualisation to full market commercialisation.  Keizai also in the Group is a provider of business improvement training to the manufacturing and industrial sectors and now the largest provider of accredited NVQ Business Improvement Techniques in the South of England.

Curiously  parallel but different THGroup Berhad

Curiously, another THGroup  on the other side of the world are also an intriguingly similar style group. THGroup Berhad, formerly listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) from 1 March 1999 to 11 May 2009 under the Plantation Sector.

This THGroup is a well diversified with four principal divisions namely Plantation, Contracting, Biohealthcare and Information Technology.

Under the Plantation division, the Group has cultivated approximately 11,469 hectares of palm oil plantations in the state of Sabah, Malaysia, and operates a 90 metric tonne palm oil mill that produces crude palm oil and palm kernel.

In Contracting, the Group is involved in coal mine contracting services, as well as design and build, civil and infrastructure construction projects.

With the Biohealthcare division, the Group operates the NCI Cancer Hospital in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, a pharmaceutical distribution unit under Asiaprise Pharma Sdn Bhd, and investment in biotechnology ventures.

The Information Technology division is mainly involved in sales, implementation as well as R&D  of oil palm plantation and milling softwares.