NGK Spark Plugs Area Manager for Ireland, Stewart Neill rekindled an old friendship when he met up with Shinich Odo, President and Chief Executive Officer of NGK Spark Plug Co Ltd of Japan recently. The pair both attended a special celebratory NGK staff event to mark the 40th anniversary of the ignition specialist being incorporated as a UK subsidiary company of Japan in 1975.

At the event Stewart was able to reminisce about Mr Odo’s time as an NGK representative when he regularly visited Ireland more than 20 years ago. Stewart said: “It was great to meet up again after so many years and reminisce about old times.  Last time I met Mr Odo was 21 years ago when he was a German office representative in Southern Ireland and now he is the top man in Japan.”

Stewart recalled, “I used to pick Mr Odo up from Dublin airport when he visited Ireland and together we went to visit our Irish customers. During his time in Ireland we became good friends as well as work colleagues. We have kept in contact since but it has been so many years since we last met up that it was a very special occasion.”

During Stewart’s visit he also attended the NGK stand at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where he met up with some Irish visitors. He said: “It was my first visit to the festival and I was delighted to meet up with so many people from Ireland who attended what was a fantastic event.”