Special Achievement Award for Roger Cooper

Ideal Standard International, a provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, has announced that Roger Cooper, Vice President, of its West Europe region, has been awarded the prestigious special achievement award at this year's KBB Review Industry Awards Ceremony, held on 3rd March, 2008 at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham, UK.

The award recognises Cooper's outstanding contribution to the bathroom industry. With a career spanning 38 years at Ideal Standard International, Cooper has developed a unique sense for the future of bathrooms and has been able to foresee that design in the bathroom would matter at all price positions. He has pioneered bathroom design by ‘bringing it to the masses’ in the form of the Ideal Standard Studio range, which has been in continuous production and sold in excess of ten million pieces since the 1980s. In recent years, he led the launch team for the Ideal Standard Create range and played a crucial role in commissioning renowned designer Jasper Morrison for Ideal Standard International's most recent designer collection. The collection is marked by understated design with functionality, offering a total bathroom solution.

Cooper has been instrumental in transforming the bathroom industry by introducing the first pastel colours, as well as playing a major role in the discontinuation of the avocado bathroom suite. His long time support, investment and bid to raise the profile and standards in style have attracted world famous designers and architects into the bathroom industry. Students, the elderly and the less-able alike have all been beneficiaries of his desire to offer design to everyone.

Cooper joined Ideal Standard International on March 2nd, 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 and is now responsible for Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iberia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Switzerland as well as the UK and Ireland.

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 (Bathroom Manufacturers Association), 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.

‘I'm so pleased Roger is getting the recognition he deserves with this award,’ says kbbreview editor Andrew Davies. ‘He's as much a part of this industry as the company, he has devoted his working life to it and he is universally respected amongst his peers and rivals for that commitment. It's been a challenging year for Ideal Standard International but the new ownership opens up real possibilities and Roger's stewardship has played a large part in securing UK interests within a global setup.

‘He is also one of those people who can be relied upon to support any new initiatives designed to move the industry forward, whether it's design, training, or technology, and there are a precious few prepared to put their name, and money, on the table to keep these processes moving. I offer him my warmest congratulations.’

Cooper himself was thrilled to receive the award, saying ‘I am delighted and honoured to receive this award which came as a complete surprise to me. I have tried throughout my career to do what I believe is right for Ideal Standard International as well as for the bathroom and shower industry. In that sense the award is as much to the company for backing me and allowing me to perform my role in the way that brings us all the respect of our peers, customers and competitors.’

Web: http://www.idealstandard.com