Leoch Battery has appointed industry expert Mike Dunckley as President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, to help strengthen the firm’s presence in global markets.

Dunckley, one of the founding members of the Hawker Batteries Group, has more than 30 years of experience in the battery industry and an extensive knowledge of the sector, from lead to lithium.

Leoch Battery, which recently also announced it had become the 122nd member of the Consortium for Battery Innovation, is now planning to build a new manufacturing plant in Mexico, to assist in boosting its presence in North and South America.

Sales in the Americas have increased by half a billion in the last 12 months.

The expansion into Mexico further supports the company’s desire to continue to dominate both new and existing markets.

Leoch Battery UK Managing Director Mike Miao said: “It’s a very exciting time at Leoch Battery. Mike is one of the leading experts in his field and we very much look forward to working with him and with our global colleagues to further reinforce Leoch’s standing in both domestic and worldwide markets.”

Leoch Battery operates its corporate headquarters in China, but has expanded worldwide with its 16 subsidiary offices globally, including locations in Singapore, the US and the UK.