Jonathan is Chief Operating Officer of the COBA Group and is responsible for leading the management of multiple subsidiaries, in addition to working on strategy and direction with the board. Jonathan joined COBA Plastics Ltd in 1998 as a Quality Engineer and swiftly made his mark on the company, resulting in being promoted to Manufacturing Manager by 2000. Since then, he has held several positions, including Group Operations Director and Managing Director. Jonathan has a BSc in Manufacturing Engineering from DeMontfort University and has been a member of the Academy for Chief Executives for over 15 years. Jonathan is a self-confessed ‘petrol head’, with an ‘obsessive interest in cars and motorbikes’. He also owns an impressive collection of musical instruments. Jonathan’s career highlights include promotions to his MD and COO positions, as well as leading several construction projects for the group, both in the UK and in Romania.
Robert was made Group Finance Director in 2014, just a year after joining the COBA group as Group Financial Controller, and was appointed to his current position of CFO in 2020. Robert heads up an international team of over twenty from COBA’s HQ in Fleckney, Leicestershire, and has responsibility for the financial performance of the Group. In his tenure, he has been instrumental in the acquisition of four companies, as well as setting up two brand new incorporations. Prior to joining COBA, Robert qualified in Accounting and Finance, at the University of the West of England, and is now a member of both the FCCA and IOD. In his personal life, Robert is an ASA qualified swimming teacher and has taught swimming to people of all ages for the last ten years. Believe it or not, earlier in his career Robert was a bungy cord tester for AJ Hackett in New Zealand!
One of the main tasks was testing the bungy cords each morning by throwing yourself off the bridge – obviously the cords were good as I am still here now and not floating down a river. This job was certainly a good way to disperse any fear of heights.
Stephen’s key objective as Plant Director of COBA subsidiary, Copely Developments, is to deliver exceptional products and services by constantly improving the equipment, processes and people within the business. Stephen was actually part of Copely between 2001 and 2006 before it was acquired by COBA. He rejoined in 2011 as Operations Director and supported the COBA leadership team in transforming Copely into an organisation that follows the group’s successful blueprint, whilst staying true to the brand’s own heritage and valuable manufacturing know-how. Stephen’s proudest achievement in his current role is developing the team towards being a responsive and professional group of people who are fun to work with every day. Stephen says of his achievements:
When we receive praise from customers regarding the service we have given, it makes me very proud.
Stephen holds a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University, an MSc in Engineering and Management from Durham, and a Diploma in Accountancy and Finance. Outside of work, Stephen is a dedicated fan of Sunderland FC, and ‘supports them through thin and thinner’.
Charlene is Managing Director of two COBA subsidiaries in South Africa, COBA Plastics (Pty) Ltd and COBA Africa (Pty) Ltd. Her main objectives include: optimising all business areas to maximise output without impacting quality, going above and beyond to ensure ongoing customer satisfaction, and investing in people by providing a safe and productive working environment, as well as training and upskilling.
Charlene joined the COBA family in 2005 when the group acquired her employer Tie Down Plastics. In her role as Accountant, Charlene was responsible for the finances of this new subsidiary, before being promoted to Finance Manager in 2007. Her responsibilities grew further in 2010 when COBA expanded its matting operations into South Africa. Other significant milestones include overseeing the acquisition of two further businesses: the injection moulding company Rubaloy, and the well-known matting brand Matco. With a much larger combined operation now in the region, Charlene was promoted to Director of both businesses in 2018, before becoming Managing Director in 2024.
I am driven by the desire to lead our teams in South Africa to become the best version of themselves. I will support, guide and lead, but I am nothing without the strong team that surrounds me. I am also a strong believer in the COBA values – Care, Optimism, Belief and Adaptability, and work by each of these values in my day-to-day roles and responsibilities and I strive to encourage others to do the same.
Peter joined COBA Subsidiary in Slovakia in 2014 as leader of the finance team. He was promoted to Financial Director in 2017. His expanded responsibilities included overseeing finance departments in CEE region group companies, managing transfer pricing, and initiating cost-saving measures. As of July 2022, Peter has been serving as the Plant Director, where he manages all departments of the automotive production company, except for the sales team managed by the UK headquarters.
With an extensive background in financial management and strategic leadership, Peter has carved out a distinguished career marked by progressive responsibilities and a proven track record of success. Outside of his professional life, Peter enjoys running, hiking, and woodworking, reflecting his passion for maintaining a balanced and active lifestyle.
In July 2023, Steve embarked on a new chapter of his career by joining COBA. Before this, he held a senior commercial management position at Cooper Standard Automotive, where he honed his skills and gained valuable experience. Over the past 14 years, Steve has dedicated himself to sales and business development, with 12 of those years spent in the automotive industry. His expertise lies in automotive sealing/weatherstrip and fluid management applications, where he has established himself as a commercial specialist.
Throughout his career, Steve has successfully led multi-disciplinary international teams, bringing diverse groups together to achieve common goals. Outside of work, he is a keen fitness enthusiast, having completed two full marathons and countless half-marathons.
Steve’s proudest professional achievement is his current role at COBA, where he has had the opportunity to build a bespoke team of natural go-getters. This team is dedicated to customer satisfaction and excels in forging strong partnerships, driving both personal and organizational success.
