Inflatable lifejacket manufacturer International Safety Products is looking to capitalise on recent overseas growth after recruiting a new Regional Sales Manager.
The firm, based in Bootle, UK, has appointed Simon Potts, former Sales Manager for Essex-based Allen Brothers – an international manufacturer and distributor of dinghy and keelboat fittings - to drive sales in the UK and parts of Northern Europe.
ISP Sales Director Geoff Billington said Mr Potts had been recruited to further develop the firm’s position in the commercial, leisure and emergency services markets. He will be selling ISP’s wide range of lifejackets, immersion suits and tactical waistcoats to the firm’s broad customer base of distributors, end users and own label customers.
“Simon has strong experience in our sector and is well placed to help drive our broader growth plan. We have tasked him with driving sales of key products within specific territories,” said Mr Billington.
Mr Potts is also a commercially endorsed yacht master with experience as a watch leader on voyages from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean.
“I am delighted to be joining ISP which has a reputation for excellence across the international maritime and emergency services sectors,” he said. “I really wanted to work for the business because it has such strong sales potential. It is renowned as a long-standing British manufacturer.
“It also has an excellent track record for delivering innovative, reliable and durable products. Its manufacturing operation is well known for working with speed and efficiency and crucially for producing bespoke products suited to individual customers’ needs.
“ISP has real momentum with impressive year on year sales growth. The firm benefits from a dynamic and passionate sales team which I am greatly looking forward to being part of.”
Geoff Billington said ISP has seen considerable growth in recent years: “Turnover rose by more than 15% in our last financial year to £7.6m. We have continued to build on this momentum in 2014 with sales up more than 35% on the first quarter of last year. Our core business remains in the manufacture and supply of lifejackets to a broad mix of sectors including military, defence, commercial and leisure. However, we are also seeing strong demand for our other manufactured products including intrepid immersion suits and tactical waistcoats. In our last financial year figures for all manufactured units rose by more than 30% to in excess of 200,000.”
