To further enhance Uponor North America’s ability to deliver innovative plumbing and heating solutions to its customers, the company has announced the creation of a new business function. This new business function will be led by Vice President Doug Fulton and called New Venture Development.

Reporting directly to President Bill Gray, Fulton will lead the exploration, incubation and integration of new products into Uponor’s existing business offerings, while also forging external partnerships. The overarching goal is to expand the company’s growth opportunities in ways that align with Uponor’s business strategy and customer insights.

Fulton’s responsibilities will encompass numerous areas related to corporate growth and expansion: Business development (M&A/Partnerships), business incubation, construction services (including building information management), codes and standards, government and industry affairs, project/stage-gate management, and Uponor Innovation.

As part of his business-incubation work, Fulton will oversee the company’s partnership with Reno, Nevada-based Pestan North America (PNA) to market and sell PNA’s proprietary PP-RCT pipe and fittings. (Note: PP-RCT stands for polypropylene, random copolymer, with modified crystallinity and temperature resistance.) Currently preparing for a formal launch of the product offering, Uponor will serve as PNA’s exclusive distributor throughout the United States and Canada.

“With the creation of our New Venture Development function, Uponor is doubling down on innovation,” says Gray. “We are emphasizing more than ever our commitment to providing innovative plumbing, heating and fire safety solutions to our customers.”

“The name New Venture Development reflects the way we see the business world evolving in the month and years ahead,” Gray continues. “While Uponor will continue to aggressively pursue direct product innovation internally, we envision an equal, if not greater, role for acquisitions, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, as we broaden our scope and capabilities.”

Most recently serving as vice president of product marketing at Uponor, Fulton joined the company in 2017 as senior director of corporate strategy and segment marketing. He holds an M.B.A. from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo.

Before joining Uponor, Fulton worked as director of marketing at Andersen Corp., a national manufacturer of windows and patio doors. Prior to that, he was vice president, business development – Midwest, for the Walt Disney Co.. Fulton spent the first part of his career in various marketing leadership roles in the consumer products industry.