Jones, who spent eleven years with In-Comm Training, has been recruited to help the additive manufacturing, EDM and laser marking specialist increase sales by 20% as it looks to become more proactive in its approach to winning new business and developing exceptional levels of customer service.
He will also be responsible for long-term strategic planning across the group, as well as using his ability to forge strategic partnerships across industry to open up new markets.
Says Jones: “It’s a fantastic time to be joining HK Technologies, especially with the awareness and demand for our technology growing by the day - it is a fast maturing market with developments making the products industrially capable.
“The acquisition [of HK Technologies] gives us a fantastic opportunity to cross-sell and add value to ETG clients and vice-versa, potentially opening up a whole new market for both companies. We need a strategy in place to make the most of this and to also leverage the strength of our brands and that’s what I’ve been brought in to achieve.”
He is confident of a quick win, too: “We believe there’s an immediate increase in sales available and, having met some of the technical people we have here, I feel there’s a real opportunity for us to provide even more support and consultancy to clients exploring 3D printing for the first time.
“There’s also real potential to grow Mitsubishi EDM’s UK sales to mirror levels in Europe, where it boasts 22% of the marketplace.”
Jones joins HK Holdings after a successful decade at In-Comm Training, where he played an instrumental role in securing a number of major employer contracts as part of a new industry-led approach to employee apprenticeships that now supports over 500 companies and 2,500 apprentices every year.
Martin Doyle, managing director of Engineering Technology Group, comments: “ETG and In-Comm Training have enjoyed a very strong partnership over the last five years, highlighting the need for industry and training providers to work together to bridge the skills gap.
“We have seen first-hand the impact Gareth can have on a business and I’m pleased to welcome him to head-up the next stage of HK Technologies’ development and to shape our ambitious growth plans.
“In addition to this role, he will also be supporting other ETG divisions with long-term strategic planning and relationship building.”
Engineering Technology Group (ETG) acquired HK Holdings and all of its subsidiaries from the Pexion Group in July. It is now able to offer its growing client base a single-source solution for CNC machining, EDM machines, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, including world-class brands such as 3D Systems, Markforged, Mitsubishi, Nakamura, Chiron and Quaser.
These will be showcased at the forthcoming ‘Discover Turnkey Excellence’ Open House at its headquarters in Wellesbourne on 2 and 3 of October.
