Willie  Printie

Managing Director - Lifescan Scotland

Willie Printie is an experienced General Manager of global manufacturing operations in the Medical Device and Diagnostic sector.  His uniquely warm leadership style has delivered excellent Customer, Quality, Financial and People results throughout his career. His cross-functional team approach to the complex task of global strategy deployment generates substantial shareholder value.  His record of successive achievements include:  driving strong financial performance; built strong customer and people culture; created global player and collaborative partner mentality; successfully introduced new products to full commercialization; led global operations rationalization; six sigma (black belt qualified) and LEAN experienced.
 

Willie is a native of Edinburgh, and studied at Telford & Napier Colleges before gaining his degree in Mechanical Engineering (1st Class hons) at University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.  He also holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh. Willie began his career with Brown Brothers & Co Ltd in Edinburgh where he served a technician apprenticeship and then moved within the Design Department, ultimately working as a Design Engineer.  In 1981 he undertook a two year post graduate industrial research contract with Paisley College, based at Ethicon Ltd in Edinburgh, part of the Johnson & Johnson group of companies.  On completion he joined Ethicon as a Management Trainee and during his 21 years with the company held positions as Production Manager, General Manager (Manufacturing, and finally as Operations Director.

In 2004 Willie joined LifeScan Scotland Ltd – another J&J company – as Executive Director of Operations, responsible for all operations for the franchise’s largest facility.  At the start of 2008 Willie assumed the responsibility of Managing Director for LifeScan Scotland Limited. Willie is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, as well as key member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.  He has contributed to many external committees/boards during his career such as the Industrial Advisory Board of Napier University; as Chairman of both the TCS Advisory Board and Medical Devices in Scotland; a member of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce. He is also the LifeScan representative to the Scottish Life Sciences Alliance/IAG group.  Willie is currently a member of SCDI (The Scottish Council for Development and Industry).