People of Power Adhesives 2026 – Alex Zulewski – Commercial Director

At the start of 2026, we brought together our sales, marketing and technical teams together to create a full Commercial team, allowing us to enhance the way we work alongside our distributors to ensure they have everything they need to go to market.

Throughout the year, we’ll be shining a spotlight on members of the Commercial team, giving you the opportunity to get to know the people behind the business and learn more about their individual journeys.

Leading the team is newly promoted Commercial Director, Alex Zulewski. Alex previously held the roles of Power Adhesives Product Manager and Commercial Manager before stepping into his current position.

In this interview, Alex reflects on his career journey to date and shares how Power Adhesives has continued to go from strength to strength during his time with the company.

Background & Journey

1. How did your journey with Power Adhesives begin?

Completely by accident. I was finishing a project with a company I was doing consultancy work for when a recruiter contacted me about a Product Management role at an adhesives company in Basildon. Curiosity led me to the interview, but it was the tour of the facility—and meeting the staff, many of whom had an average tenure of around 15 years—that really sold it to me. It was immediately clear this was a company people genuinely wanted to stay with.

2. What made you choose to stay with the company for so long?

No two days are ever the same. The business continually presents new technical and personal challenges, which suits both my personality and the evolving roles I’ve held over the years.

3. How has your role evolved over the years?

I joined as Product Manager and, within my first year, absorbed responsibility for the Technical and Regulatory Compliance functions. That led to my appointment as Commercial Manager, and following a change in CEO and a renewed strategic growth focus, I was appointed Commercial Director.

4. How would you describe the company culture in three words?

Innovative, collaborative, and accountable.

Innovation & Leadership

5. What’s one innovation or project you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of?

Developing and successfully taking to market the world’s first biodegradable hot melt adhesives.

6. How does Power Adhesives stay ahead in the industry?

We deliberately avoid competing in the commodity consumables space, which is largely dominated by Eastern European or Far East–sourced products and often becomes a race to the bottom. Instead, we focus on the high-technical end of the market—constantly exploring how far hot melt technology can be pushed into applications traditionally dominated by other adhesive types.

7. How have you seen technology or processes change since you started?

There has been a significant shift toward smarter, more efficient manufacturing and greater regulatory oversight. Digitisation has improved traceability, testing, and product development speed, while customer expectations have moved firmly toward sustainability, performance validation, and application-specific solutions rather than off-the-shelf products.

People & Teamwork

8. What do you enjoy most about working with your team?

The openness and willingness to challenge ideas constructively. There’s a strong sense of shared ownership here—people genuinely care about the outcome, not just their individual roles. That collaborative mindset makes problem-solving faster, better, and far more rewarding.

9. Are there any mentors or colleagues who have had a big impact on your career?

Early in my career at Maximuscle, my boss Roger Harris was a huge influence. He put me front and centre in meetings, trusted me with responsibility early on, and gave me my first real opportunity in product development. I learned an enormous amount from his leadership style.

Future

10. Where do you see Power Adhesives heading in the next 5–10 years?

I see Power Adhesives continuing to grow as a specialist, innovation-led manufacturer with sustainability at its core. We’ll expand further into technically demanding applications, develop more environmentally responsible solutions, and strengthen our global presence—all while staying true to our culture and technical expertise.