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Q&A with Kannad Marine Product Manager, James Turner
Q: What does your role as Product Manager for Kannad Marine involve?
A: I’m involved in a new product right the way through, from brain-storming for new ideas till the product is supplied from our Portsmouth factory. There’s a considerable amount of crystal ball gazing in the early days, with details about the product, the target market, and the expectations in terms of cost and potential for growth of the company. As the design progresses we have regular meetings to track the progress of the engineering project, and in time we bring in the buyers and manufacturing team, so that by the time we’re ready to go into production everybody knows what they’re doing, components are purchased, and everything falls into place.
Q: How has the Kannad Marine product range developed recently?
A: As a brand, Kannad Marine is doing very well. We have a full suite of safety equipment products, including PLBs, EPIRBs, SARTs, AIS SARTs and the new personal AIS device, the R10 SRS. Historically, it has been very difficult to rescue someone from the sea when they are lost from sight. With the R10, you can be miles away and still see your casualty on the boat’s chart plotter screen, so you can navigate back direct to him, and when you’re very close the bright flashing light will help for night-time recovery. We’ve had a good start order wise, and we look forward to a very successful future with that product.
Q: What previous personal knowledge/expertise does your role draw on?
A: I am a seasoned sailor and pilot and I have spent many years in international sales and marketing before coming to this Product Manager role. I find that almost everything I have done in the past helps me in my job today.
Q: How does your current role integrate within the wider Kannad Marine and McMurdo Ltd team?
A: We are a team, and that’s important. Everybody brings something to the party. I am involved with the Marketing, Engineering and Manufacturing teams, but I’m just one of many people that make the company the success that it is.
Q: What key developments are you currently focussing on?
A: Now that would be telling! We try not to let the cat out of the bag too early, but suffice it to say that McMurdo Ltd, through the Kannad Marine and McMurdo brands, is not sitting still. We are, by our very nature, innovators. You can expect more innovations in due course.