Laura Bates has a career history of 36 years including 20 years specialising in global business services management within an international trading arena.

Currently Ms Bates is the Managing Director of London Process Centre Ltd which operates as a business partner delivering solutions to Mitsui & Co (Europe) plc from back-office business support, accounting functions, analytics, training services and RPA/DT initiatives across the Mitsui Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Ms Bates began her career with Mitsui Europe in 1986 as an International Business Manager within the Global Consumer Goods and Lifestyle Product sector representing premium consumer brands to Japan such as ‘Burberry’, ‘Austin Reed’, ‘Pringle’, ‘Barbour’ and ‘Red or Dead’.

In 1999 Ms Bates working as owner/operator formed the first shared service centre to support Mitsui and Co (Europe) plc in business facing administration processes. Developing and expanding from a single sector to multiple operations within the Mitsui EMEA organization. 

In 2007 following the re-incorporation into Mitsui and Co (Europe) plc, Ms Bates became Managing Director of London Process Centre and expanded the operations to support 30 entities within the Mitsui EMEA group, including the reorganization and design of operating policies and procedures whilst facilitating the introduction of SAP ECC globally.

In 2018 Ms Bates was nominated to lead the ‘EMEA Digital Transformation Team’ and is currently heavily involved in the introduction of transformational technologies for the Mitsui companies.

Before Ms Bates career in Mitsui she was the Production Manager in a defence and avionics company ‘GEC Avionics’.  Working closely with the production lines to ensure sensitive defence order commitments were met.

In her home town of Benfleet, Essex Ms Bates works as a volunteer for the ‘Personal Support Unit - PSU’ a charity supporting vulnerable people who are facing life changing court circumstances in court on their own.  Providing comfort, support and guidance before, during and after court process ensuring that people have supported access to justice.

Ms Bates is the proud mother of two daughters and enjoys travel, walking, creative cake making and painting.