Tioxide’s Managing Director crowned Tees Businesswoman of the Year
Award recognises Karen Askwith’s role saving Teesside’s Greatham TiO2 plant
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Karen Askwith, Managing Director of Tioxide, has been named Tees Businesswoman of the Year, recognising her outstanding contribution to business and industry across the Tees Valley.
Karen Askwith and Zoe Lewis from Middlesborough College, which sponsored the Tees Businesswoman of the Year award category
Tioxide
The prestigious award was presented at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield on Wednesday 4 November, at a ceremony celebrating the achievements of inspirational women across Teesside and their impact on the region’s economy and business community.
The award recognises Karen’s tireless efforts to secure the future of Tioxide’s Greatham facility. The site has been producing titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) pigment on Teesside for more than fifty years – but was idled in October 2025 after the previous owner went into administration.
From October 2025 to April 2026, Karen led the team that placed the plant on standby, ensuring it was idled safely and maintained in a way that would enable a swift return to production at the appropriate time. In parallel, Karen worked closely with the site’s administrators to identify a new buyer and negotiate a deal that would preserve the facility as an important capability at the heart of the North East’s chemical cluster.
After LB Group purchased the site in April 2026 and Tioxide was established, Karen was appointed Managing Director and her work pivoted to recruiting staff and activating a carefully curated restart plan for the Greatham plant. Production resumed in August, after just four months, with the team making faster-than-expected progress in the manufacture of its TiO 2 pigment grades. Tioxide is now working to restart a second production stream at Greatham and is targeting a head count of more than 300 people for 2027.
Speaking after receiving the award, Karen said: “I’m delighted to receive this award. Tees Valley is home to so many talented and inspiring businesswomen, and this year’s category shortlists are testament to that. To be recognised among them is a real honour. This award reflects the fantastic people I work alongside. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together over the past year and excited about what lies ahead. As a chemical engineer, I’m passionate about our industry and the possibilities it offers. As Tioxide continues to grow, I look forward to showcasing the opportunities open to women and girls, inspiring them to consider careers in STEM and the chemical industry.”
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