An internationally recognised scientist, Dr K T W (Ken) Alexander held a PhD in Biochemistry from Southampton University and worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia.
His main career in leather started when he joined the then British Leather Manufacturers’ Research Association (BLMRA) in January 1980 as a specialist researcher in protein science. He was appointed Assistant Director, Technical, of the British Leather Confederation in 1985, became Technical Director in July 1990 and Chief Executive of BLC in 1992.
Dr Alexander remained as Chief Executive until his retirement in early 2006. During his time at BLC, he played a very important role in leading its modernisation of BLC during the 1990s, and also served a term as President of SLTC, the UK based Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists, and supported the IULTCS, the International Union of Leather Technologists and Chemists Societies congress when it was hosted in London, in 1997.
