Partner Article

Leading product design house appoints new managing director

Leading UK product design and development firm Wideblue, which is part of Pivot International, has appointed Barry Warden as its new managing director.

Barry Warden joined the multi award-winning company in 2014 as a mechanical design engineer, and was most recently Wideblue’s design and development director. Barry is a Chartered Engineer and has over 14 years of experience in mechanical design, working on many high-profile consumer and medical device projects. He has a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Glasgow, and is a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

He said: “I am delighted to be taking over as managing director at this exciting time for the company. Wideblue has just celebrated 15 years in business and has experienced high growth in the past few years working on many interesting and innovative products. Over half of our product portfolio is now in the medical device sector which has seen a sharp increase in demand since the pandemic. We are actively involved in a number of exciting and technically challenging products in the medical space working with a clients across the UK, Europe and US.

Out going MD and company founder Russell Overend, who has been with the company since its inception in 2006, will carry on in an advisory capacity to support the firm with new business development. He said: “I have loved leading Wideblue and helping the company grow and move into new markets. I am leaving my role as MD with the company in an extremely strong position, and I am very confident that Barry will continue to drive the company forward. Having worked with Barry over a number of years he has proven to be a very capable and creative design engineer and leader. I am confident the business will go from strength to strength.”

Wideblue became part of Pivot International in April 2018 after being acquired by the Kansas-based company for an undisclosed sum.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Michael Donaldson .