Jun 24, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), has announced the retirement of a key industry figure and member, John Mead,as reported by the organization's press service. With an established career within the timber pallet industry, John holds almost 40 years of knowledge, experience and impressive achievements. Through his passion and commitment to the industry, John’s accomplishments include the role of Chief Executive of The Tilgate Group, Timcon Pallet Section Chairman and Timcon President. Well respected within the industry, John was invited to address the FEFPEB Association and was further appointed the USA association, NWPCA’s International Director, actively promoting world pallet congresses as a result of his work whilst at The Tilgate Group. His international achievements presented John with the opportunity to pursue equipment and business and he played a key role in the forming of the International Association of Pallet Recyclers. The next chapter in John’s career featured a role on the GKN Chep management board, which was followed by a senior role within one of Chep’s parent companies, Brambles Europe in which he ensured the supply of quality Chep pallets throughout the US, following a successful launch. Through his pallets standard work for TIMCON, John became involved in both the European standards committee (CEN) and BSI, during that work the first CEN pallet repair standard was put in place. Following this John took on the role as Chairman of the ISO Committee at a time when the key pallet-testing standard was undergoing a major redirection and he looks forward to the completion of the work. On his achievements Mr Mead comments, “Looking back on my time in the industry, I can say that working in a wood based industry has given me satisfaction in being able to promote the advantages and resilience of wood products and latterly of course to be able to be part of the renewable resource campaigns, which remain such a key part of the industry today.”