Powervamp, the Weston-super-Mare-based manufacturer of cutting edge power products, has appointed James Ackland as its new global director of sales.
James, pictured, will take charge of the company’s expanding world aviation business and drive sales of its Effekta range of emergency lighting central battery systems. 
Powervamp operates in 40 countries worldwide, supplying products for sectors ranging from automotive and aviation to the built environment.
James previously worked at Essex-based international light and power connection systems firm LPA Niphan for 10 years, where he gained extensive sales and management experience.
Powervamp’s sales rose 10% year on year and it is forecasting a 25% increase next year on the back of a string of major contract wins including London City Airport, where it is supplying 10 mobile ground power units (MEGP) to replace the mobile diesel units used to power all aircraft.
The contract was a UK manufacturing first – Powervamp’s larger rivals could not meet the airport’s requirements to design the compact ground power units, which are mounted on battery powered movable carts. The units are expected to eliminate 2,000 tonnes of CO2 annually and produce fuel savings exceeding of £200,000 a year.
The firm, which employs 51 people, has also secured high-profile contracts at London Heathrow, Downing Street, Birmingham Airport and Waterloo Station.
Effekta standby lighting is one of its fastest-growing divisions, with major public areas such as airport concourses and malls increasingly using the system for emergency lighting.
Joint managing director Richard Roller, who co-founded the business 21 years ago, said: “James has had previous experience in this field and, with his ground support equipment market knowledge, is uniquely qualified to head both our sales teams as we maintain the growth projections in our five year plan.”
Joint managing director Ken Walker added: “Apart from the obvious technical and commercial experience that James brings to the company as an engineering graduate, it was essential that the board felt he would comfortably integrate with them and after a lengthy selection process he was unanimously places well above all other applicants.”
