Press release -
Ocean Signal: Ocean Signal Managing Director Alan Wrigley Steps Down
Alan Wrigley has announced that he is stepping down from his role as Managing Director of communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal.
Effective from 1 June 2017, company founder Wrigley is replaced by Ocean Signal’s current Senior Project Manager, Neil Jordan, in a planned transition developed to continue the rapid growth of the Margate-based business.
Wrigley, who has been involved in the marine electronics industry for over 41 years, has steered engineering-led Ocean Signal from a new company with a small portfolio of devices in 2011 to an international brand and world leader in safety beacon technology. It now supplies a range of ground-breaking products to the leisure, commercial and professional offshore sectors.
Wrigley will continue to work with Ocean Signal on special projects and on a consultancy basis, and leaves his position with confidence that the company will continue to strengthen and bring more innovative products to the market in the years ahead.
He said: “It has been a great experience to build the company to this stage and I step down with confidence that Neil will take us to the next level of growth and that Ocean Signal will continue to go from strength to strength. In a succession which has been part of our long-term business strategy, I am pleased to hand the reins over to such an excellent choice for our new Managing Director who has a great deal of experience in the sector.
“Since we first established the company in 2008, the rate of growth of Ocean Signal has been phenomenal. During the years, we have expanded our production space and increased our personnel and in the last two years alone, the company has doubled in size. From our initial launch of products for the commercial market, we expanded into the leisure sector with our rescueME brand from 2013 onwards and then developed professional products such as our M100 MSLD and E101V float-free memory capsule for VDR. I am certain that our engineering expertise and focus on research and development will ensure that Ocean Signal will continue to bring innovative safety products to the market which will save lives.”
Alan Wrigley started in the marine industry in the 1970s with Racal Marine, engineering marine HF and MF equipment. He then became a director for Sharp Autopilots, before he left in 1984 to start the original Navico Ltd where he led the development of Axis VHF radios and was involved in the development of the first waterproof radio. Following Kongsberg Maritime’s acquisition of Navico, Wrigley became managing director of Simrad Ltd from 2000 to 2008.
New Ocean Signal Managing Director Jordan was appointed as the company’s Senior Project Manager in April this year. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the maritime and land electronic safety beacon industry, with expertise in areas including Cospas-Sarsat 406MHz beacons, AIS man overboard devices, VHF and satellite communications products.
Neil commented: “Ocean Signal has been successfully established as a key market leader in beacon technology and innovative aesthetics and engineering design, developing products which make a real difference to people. I am therefore proud to continue Alan’s excellent work and am looking forward to leading the company to the next stage in its growth. We have new products to be announced in the near future, so it is an exciting time to be taking on the new role.”
Ocean Signal products are now supplied to more than 40 countries for commercial, fishing, recreational and professional users and are also endorsed by a number of high-profile sailors, rowers, surfers and powerboat racing teams. It has just been announced that in this year’s Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, the award-winning Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 AIS man overboard device will be integrated into all crew life jackets to enhance safety standards.
Since its acquisition by Drew Marine Ltd in May 2015, Ocean Signal has reported an increased rate of growth while operating as a unit of Florida-based ACR Electronics, Inc., a move combining two of the most highly experienced electronic engineering teams in the marine communication industry.
Ocean Signal recently launched the new M100 and M100X Maritime Survivor Locating Device (MSLD) and AIS Alarm Box, adding to the rescueME PLB1 personal locator beacon, MOB1 man overboard device, EPIRB1 and EDF1 electronic distress flare and its SafeSea range of GMDSS products, including the V100 hand-held radio, S100 SART and E100 EPIRB. Last year, Ocean Signal collaborated with AMI Marine to introduce the new float-free E101V EPIRB with integrated voyage data recorder (VDR) memory capsule.
For further information on Ocean Signal and the full range of products, please go to www.oceansignal.com.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
James Hewitt
Ocean Signal
Tel: +44 (0)1843 282930
E-mail: james.hewitt@oceansignal.com
www.oceansignal.com
Jules Riegal
Saltwater Stone
Tel: +44(0)1202 669244
E-mail: j.riegal@saltwater-stone.com
www.saltwaterpr.com
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About Ocean Signal
Communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal™ is dedicated to providing the technology and quality of product that will set industry standards.
Ocean Signal’s product portfolio consists of the rescueME range of products, including the rescueME PLB1, the rescueME MOB1, the rescueME EPIRB1 and the rescueME EDF1 electronic distress flare, plus the AIS Alarm Box, and the SafeSea range of GMDSS products, including the E100 and E100G EPIRB, S100 SART and V100 handheld VHF radio, as well as the M100 and M100X professional MSLD and E101V float-free EPIRB with integrated voyage data record memory capsule. They provide both recreational and commercial mariners with simple to use, compact and affordable life-saving solutions. All products are engineered by a highly experienced team of marine electronics professionals.
Ocean Signal products are trusted by high-profile sailors, rowers, surfers and powerboat racing teams. Providing some of the world’s best competitors and adventurers with vital safety and communication devices, the company’s rescueME MOB1 has been selected to enhance safety standards for crew taking part in the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race. Ocean Signal has also sponsored the crew of Simply Fun with rescueME MOB1s, rescueME PLBs and a rescueME EPIRB1 in the 2016 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the 16-man crew of Triton with rescueME MOB1s in the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race,record-breaking sailor Andrea Mura in the single-handed OSTAR race, Mini Transat 2015 solo sailor Lizzy Foreman, Atlantic rowing duo Ocean Valour, Venture Cup offshore powerboat race team Cinzano, kite racer Gina Hewson and canoeist Adam Weymouth.
Safety and communication products from Ocean Signal offer exceptional value, meeting or exceeding international technical and safety standards. Careful design and innovation provides commercial shipping, fishing and recreational users the confidence that their Ocean Signal equipment will work to, and beyond, their expectations when it is needed most.
