Experience

Aquapac International Limited

• United Kingdom
• Sporting Goods Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-CEO

  • Sep 1983 - Present

  Recently rejoined Aquapac [company used to be called Aquaman from 83-99] after 20 years. A new exciting period for the company.

• Managing Director

  • Jun 1983 - Jun 1999

  Managing Director and Founder of company manufacturing range of waterproof cases and importing and distributing products in UK and Europe. Main markets were marine, mobile phone and hiking. The average annual turnover was £2m.Key responsibilities and achievements:• Business plan – set up the original business to create a global brand in a series of niche markets using profits partly from a range of imported goods in related market sectors to finance the research, development and marketing• Financial controls – instituted monthly management accounts, cashflow and budgets updated and analyzed at monthly board meetings• Strategy development – developing strategy from year to year to constantly increase sales, reduce costs, improve products and distribution• Personnel recruitment – brought in a staff of 25 from non-executive Chairman, company directors and key people at every level• Product development – managed project to create new patentable design simpler and cheaper to manufacture and with more functions.• Manufacturing – set up our own manufacturing including sourcing machinery and personnel to run it successfully at two plants in both UK and Eire. • Sales offices – set up global distribution network (95% sales exported of own brand) including office in Los Angeles to start up distribution of our own products in N & S America. • Set up distributorships for complementary products – all quality brands in the global recreational marine market that fed into the same main customer base in the UK.• Set up European distribution sales and warehousing centre for American manufacturer in London. Built sales from zero to $1m annually.• Intellectual property – patented design in 15 countries and trademarked brand in over 40 countries worldwide.• OEM manufacturing - high volume promotional sales to multi-nationals like Nokia and T Mobile • Website set up – oversaw and created sales and marketing platform for own brand products Show less