A woman who helped shape the global communications for one of the county’s leading companies and inspired her colleagues to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity is retiring after nearly 30 years.
Karen Clegg is stepping down from her role as production services manager at chemical firm Lubrizol UK, where she has spent just under three decades putting her skills as a graphic designer and communications specialist to good use.
She joined the company, based in Hazelwood, in 1992 with the task of translating complex scientific information into promotional and exhibition material to help Lubrizol, which develops and produces fuel additives and lubricants, market them to leading automotive manufacturers and petrol companies.
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Karen Clegg is leaving Lubrizol after 28 years
She then moved in 2002 to manager of the UK Creative and Production team, a role overseeing creative projects and the production of marketing materials focussing on Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia.
She also helped to rebuild its in-house intranet in 2004, before, in 2010, being appointed marketing communications manager, a role which saw her travel the world to help develop programmes to raise the profile of Lubrizol in a number of countries overseas.
In recent years, Karen has played more of a role on the home front, working in the company’s global communications team while also taking over as chair of its increasingly busy charities and communities committee.
Lubrizol takes a very active role in supporting its community and it has donated more than £160,000 over the past 10 years to a host of local and national good causes, both big and small, including Macmillan Cancer Support, the British Heart Foundation, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and the Turnditch and Windley Show.
In 2017 and 2018 it raised more than £16,000 Derbyshire Mind, which enabled the charity to take on a community development officer, thanks to Karen and her Lubrizol colleagues’ fundraising efforts, which included running marathons, cake sales, quizzes and a whole host of other sponsored events.
Karen said: “Working at Lubrizol has always provided me with a huge amount of opportunities and working across the world with so many different clients and people over the past 28 years has been spectacular.
“I’ve also loved working with everyone at Hazelwood and I’m very proud of everything that has been achieved by the communities and charities committee, especially the way in which the money we raised helped Derbyshire Mind to make such a difference.
“That community involvement is very important to Lubrizol and I really enjoyed being part of its efforts to give something back to local organisations so that they can put the money we raised to good use.”
In her spare time Karen is an award-winning talented artist and poet, and last year she had some of her work exhibited at the Derby Print Open and was awarded the People’s Choice for one of her artworks, based on her experiences since she was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 3 C ovarian cancer in 2016.
She is now being monitored regularly by her hospital and plans to spend her time doing more painting and writing more poetry, as well as writing and recording music with her husband, Reg, and working on the garden at their home in Breaston.
Mike Harding, Global Creative Services Manager said: “Karen has been an exceptional colleague and friend to many people in the Lubrizol business worldwide. Her impact on the business is clear to see for all that have worked with her and she will leave a big gap to fill.
“Her dedication to charity and community work has been outstanding and I know that Karen will continue to support local charity initiatives that mean a lot to her.
“In recent years we know how hard it has been for her through her recurring illness and everyone at Lubrizol wishes her well on her next chapter – a happy, art, travel and music-filled retirement.”
ENDS
