Future Fibres appoints new Sales Manager
by Future Fibres 9 Mar 2020 02:42 PDT
9 March 2020
Future Fibres supplies rope ti the whole F50 fleet. SailGP, Event 1 Season 2 in Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia. 25 February © Lloyd Images / SailGP
Future Fibres, the world’s leading supplier of composite rigging, has announced a further strengthening of their sales team with the addition of Ian Andrewes as Sales Manager.
Ian joins the team with a vast experience within the sailing world and also within the North Technology Group, as he transitions to Future Fibres from his previous role as Project Manager at sister company Hall Spars.
He began working at Hall Spars in 2018 as a Project Manager, specializing mainly in the Multihull and high-performance markets. Before joining Hall Spars, Ian also developed his skills in performance and management working as both a professional sailor and coach. He has sailed on numerous boats and programmes including the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, as well as working as Head Coach to Olympic Sailor Pieter-Jan Postma and to the Canadian Olympic Nacra 17 Sailing Team.
In these roles Ian would consult with teams on building and upgrading new racing yachts and advise on technical specifications of masts and rigging to enhance performance. This experience as both a consumer and supplier of high performance masts and rigging will be invaluable experience in helping push the development of Future Fibres rigging products and to maintain their market leading edge for performance and reliability.
On joining the company, Ian stated:
“I built my first dinghy mast when I was ten years old using a re-purposed windsurf mast, epoxy resin and a bunch of Kevlar rope fibers. I’m pretty sure it broke within the first hour of sailing but ever since I always wanted to find ways to make things stronger, lighter and faster. 20 years later with many successes in racing, I have found myself working at Future Fibres where their leading product range of advanced composite cables sets the standard for the industry. I am excited by the challenges that lay ahead and look forward to adding to the success story that is Future Fibres ”
James Austin, Future Fibres' General Manager added:
"We are pleased and excited to be welcoming Ian to the team. He brings with him a wealth of sailing and rig building experience that will make a great foundation for his work going forwards. Ian complements our commercial team that is made up exclusively of experienced sailors that come with a technical background and interest in delivering a great experience for all of our valued customers.”