Think Group, a Yorkshire-based textile manufacturer, announced the appointment of Rachel Douglas Phillips as technical & sustainability manager.

In her new role, Douglas Phillips will lead the development of new products in collaboration with customers and guide businesses on sustainability within the nonwovens industry. Alongside this, she will support the manufacturing process by optimising fiber blends and adapting existing products for more technical applications.

Douglas Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in textile science and technology. In her previous role as business development manager at NIRI (Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute), she managed key accounts, including clients listed on the Fortune 500, a reflection of her technical expertise and commercial insight.

This appointment is a key step in Think Group’s aim to develop the next generation of high-performance, sustainable fiber products, helping customers navigate new technologies and emerging scientific advancements.

“I’m really excited to join Think Group and contribute to the development of innovative nonwoven products, as well as being part of new fiber initiatives,” says Douglas Phillips. “It’s a great opportunity to be part of a business that’s committed to sustainability and forward-thinking solutions.”

Think Group’s new technical & sustainability manager is particularly looking forward to being involved in product development from concept through to commercialisation, supporting the sales team to identify new markets, and helping them fully understand the technical capabilities and performance markers of new fibers.

​​Danny Shortall, group sales director, adds: “Rachel has a proven track record of using her deep technical understanding of nonwovens to develop exciting new products. This is a highly specialized skill set, and we believe Rachel can bring a tremendous amount of knowledge, expertise and experience to our group.”