Meet The Team
General Manager
General Manager Stephen Bittle is responsible for the strategy, planning and management of all Walker Filtration Group divisions, driving the full potential of the business and product development in line with customer needs.
A Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years of experience dedicated to developing innovative products in the air and gas filtration industry, Steve has been an integral part of the Senior Management Team at Walker Filtration for the past five years, having joined the Group in 2016 as Chief Design Officer. Steve is instrumental in delivering market leading products, built in collaboration with our customers to ensure that they are unique to their market requirements.
Vacuum Business Development Lead
Vacuum Business Development Lead Simon Wise spearheads the Vacuum business unit at Walker Filtration, working in collaboration with our OEM customers to support their global distribution channels.
Simon has worked in the filtration market for over 28 years, leading commercial and engineering departments that serve international markets and standards. A Chartered Engineer, Simon is a nominated BSI UK expert and member of various ISO committees for standards development for medical gas and compressed air.
Simon is meticulous in his approach to all aspects of business, customer confidentiality and delivering high quality products and levels of service for our customers.
Group Head of HR
Alix joined us in 2023 and has held senior HR roles in the private sector spanning digital & tech, FMCG, professional services and utilities, and is keen on developing future fit people strategies, with a global reach.
She is a graduate of Northumbria University with a first-class BA (hons) in Leadership & Management. Alix also holds postgraduate diplomas in Human Resource Management, Employment Law and executive leadership coaching.
Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the professional body for HR and people development, Alix frequently represents the region regarding work and the people agenda. Most recently, she has joined the North East England Chamber of Commerce as a Council Member and Chair of their Women’s Advisory Board – driving diversity and gender equality in business across the North East.
Head of Supply Chain and Logistics
Peter oversees all Supply Chain and Logistics activities for Walker Filtration, leading his team in the continued and ongoing development of our global sourcing strategy, procurement and logistics processes – ultimately, allowing us to better serve our customers.
A Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, Peter has significant experience across all areas of the supply chain, and has a total of 15 years experience in the Compressed Air and Gas Industry. He is passionate about building a resilient and agile supply chain to support our customers and business.
Group Business Controller
Group Business Controller, Johan Forstorp, leads groupwide finance at Walker Filtration, as well as overseeing IT and Corporate Governance matters.
With over 16 Years of international experience in finance and controlling in manufacturing and customer center settings, Johan has a wealth of knowledge in how businesses operate and is an expert in helping them achieve their full potential.
Adaptable, considered, and with an eye for detail, Johan is skilled at quickly understand the ‘big picture’ and is passionate about empowering both people and businesses to develop and grow.
Chief Design Officer
Chief Design Officer Michael Thompson plays a crucial role in delivering our strategic growth plan. Responsible for leading all aspects of the engineering team, Michael’s primary focus is to drive the company’s engineering strategy, research and development, and new product introduction.
Michael brings 20 years of technical experience in various sectors to the company. Accustomed to leading large engineering teams and delivering complex projects, Michael and his team are dedicated to producing high standard engineering initiatives.
Head of Operations
Head of Operations, Chris Willoughby, will steer the group towards operational excellence – overseeing all aspects of product quality, cost and delivery to ensure optimisation of production levels and the maximisation of operational efficiency.
Chris brings over 20 years of operations experience, boasting a Six Sigma Black Belt for Process Improvement. Chris is also a chartered Engineer and holds a masters from Durham University’s School of Engineering. This high-level of experience will be a crucial tool for providing a clear road map for the Operations function of Walker Filtration.