SMI Announces New Business Development Manager to Drive Growth
Rowland Wright brings experience from UK Primes to consolidate SMI’s defence industry presence
Experience from engineering all the way to business development ensures total understanding of customer needs.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Rowland Wright as the organisation’s new Business Development Manager. As a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) with significant export value, SMI continues to expand its footprint in the global market, particularly in the defence and renewable energy sectors.
Wright brings extensive experience in strategic business development, market analysis, and partnership building – honed with over 25 years’ experience at Marconi’s (now Leonardo UK) maritime and land domain business units, as well as experience at Raytheon and SKYDEX Technologies. Wright’s experience has taken him from engineering and design all the way to Sales and Business Development, making him an invaluable addition to the team.
“We are always looking for excellent new talent, and I, along with the Business Development team, am thrilled to welcome Rowland to the SMI Team,” said Jenny Shaw, CEO of SMI. “His experience and vision aligns perfectly with our goals to maintain and expand our reach in the defence market, as well as working with our existing team to boost our presence in aerospace, energy and transport sectors. As we continue to innovate and deliver high-quality, secure future cabling solutions, Rowland will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our business.”
In his new role, Wright will lead initiatives to mould new strategic partnerships, explore new market opportunities, and strengthen relationships with existing clients primarily in SMI’s defence portfolio. His focus will be on leveraging SMI’s advanced connectivity and coupling capabilities to meet the evolving demands of the defence industry, as well as contributing to the ongoing work of supplying the UK’s growing renewable energy sector, both of which are crucial to the UK’s economic and environmental goals.
“I am super excited to join SMI and look forward to working with such a talented team,” said Rowland. “The company’s commitment to innovation and quality, along with its impressive track record in exports provides a really strong foundation for both the company’s and my professional future growth. I am particularly eager to develop our presence in the renewable energy sectors, where there is significant potential to make a positive impact both economically for the UK but also for the communities where this infrastructure will be based.”
As a high-tech manufacturer with a strong focus on innovation, SMI has consistently delivered cutting-edge cabling solutions that cater to the needs of various industries including defence, infrastructure, and renewable energy. The company’s fit and forget products are renowned for their reliability and performance, making them a preferred choice for clients both in the UK and internationally, and is the only company worldwide to hold a UK Ministry of Defence Capability Approval for 30 years for their Polyethelene Submarine cabling and connectors.
With a growing portfolio of high-value exports, SMI continues to contribute significantly to the UK’s economic success and its journey to Net Zero.