Adrian Abel has taken over as president of the UK's Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC). He succeeds Arthur Welham.

After graduating from Leeds University in 1968, Mr Abel worked for a paint company in Liverpool before joining Hoechst in 1970 as a pigment technologist, where he worked for the next 30 years. In 2000 he joined Holliday Dispersions as managing director, remaining in the position when the Dominion Colour Corporation acquired the company in 2005, when it was renamed Gemini Dispersions.

A member of the SDC since 1970, Mr Abel has been involved with a number of SDC committees, including education and publications, with his main contribution being to the Colour Index Editorial Board which he joined in 1982.