'Hippy in a suit' lands the top job

Business Correspondent Jonathan Jones spoke to him about his new role.

No-one could say of Alex Worrall that he has not paid his dues. He has spent a quarter of a century with car parts business TKA Tallent Chassis. In the New Year, the 53-year-old will become chairman of the ThyssenKrupp group of companies in the UK, all 63 of them.

But, to the undisguised pleasure of Mr Worrall, originally from Romford in Essex, now living in Walworth on the outskirts of Darlington, the job will not take him away from the area.

He said: "From a personal point of view I'm pleased that my role as chairman will not mean leaving the area, as I will continue to be based at Newton Aycliffe.

"I joined Tallent on December 1, 1978. I remember it well, because it was also the day my daughter was born. I only have to look at her to know how long I've been here."

Mr Worrall studied economics and accountancy at Birmingham University and was the youngest person at the time to qualify as an accountant, aged only 21. He then went to work for Ford in 1971, before being spotted by ICI in 1973.

It was at that time that he got involved with a lot of part-time ventures, including the Prontaprint business.

He was one of the original shareholders of that business, selling his stake, before joining Tallent.

He said: "The really good news, from my point of view, is that the Tallent site in Newton Aycliffe will become the headquarters for all ThyssenKrupp group companies in the UK. Until recently it was based in Birmingham.

"In 25 years at Tallent, I count myself fortunate to have worked with some of the best people in the business, many of whom have become close personal friends.

"I can even forgive one of them for introducing me as a "hippy in a suit" when I spoke at a conference on the euro."

He admits to still holding some of those "hippy" values, which probably accounts for his directorship of the Middlesbrough-based Green Tyre Company.

The decision to base the group's headquarters in Newton Aycliffe will also mean that Mr Worrall will not have to give up any of his other outside interests, which include council membership of the Durham Learning and Skills Council and other bodies involved in developing and maintaining the economic well-being of the North-East.

He is also a keen supporter of Middlesbrough football club, and a major shareholder in a marina, leisure and water-ski complex in Cambridgeshire.

Mr Worrall lectures on strategy to MBA students at Henley Business School and a number of London universities.

The ThyssenKrupp group in the UK employs more than 9,200 people at 31 locations, and has a turnover of £1.1bn.

Its North-East operations employ about 2,000 people and include not only TK Tallent Chassis, but also ThyssenKrupp Woodhead, also in Newton Aycliffe, Roballo Engineering in Peterlee, ThyssenKrupp Elevator in Gateshead and ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Supplies in Durham.

The Newton Aycliffe facility makes parts for Porsche's new Boxter model, as well as cars built by Nissan, Ford, Volvo, Honda, and VW.

It was also involved in the development of Sir Clive Sinclair's C5, but chose not to produce the vehicle.

Talking about his new job, Mr Worrall said: "What fascinates me about my future role is the sheer diversity of Thyssen-Krupp's interests.

"We cover sectors such as automotive engineering, elevators, materials, steel and services and even have a company that paints the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland."

But Mr Worrall admits to being sad to leave his present position: "My sense of anticipation at my new role is tempered with some regret at leaving my current post with TKA Tallent Chassis.

"The company has been an integral part of my working life for 25 years, and in that time I have seen it grow from a £1m-a-year turnover company, employing 200 staff, to the point where it employs almost 1,700 people and turns over in excess of £160m a year."

That growth was set in motion in 1988 when the then finance director, along with chief executive Bernard Robinson and current managing director Simon Flunder, led an £11m management buy-out of the then Tallent Engineering. To reach critical mass in its markets, they sold the company to Thyssen in 1992.

Mr Worrall said: "I've had great satisfaction in being part of a dynamic team that relentlessly pursues excellence in all it does.

"It is an example I will take forward into my chairmanship of ThyssenKrupp."

But perhaps the last word should go to Tallent's current managing director, Simon Flunder.

He said: "Alex has been one of the architects of our company, having helped to build up its reputation, paving the way for further progress in the years to come.

"Naturally we are sad to be losing him, but we are delighted that "one of our own" has been appointed to the top group position in the UK. I suppose I'll have to call my old friend sir, especially as he's going to be my boss."