Barton Marine Managing Director, David Coleman, has recently stepped down as chairman of the British Marine Federation International development committee after 20 years service, David Barrow takes over as his successor in this important position.

Elected in 1989, David’s involvement has been key in assisting British exporters selling into overseas markets, he was the prime mover in setting up the ‘inward buyers mission’ at the London Boat Show, giving UK companies access to often elusive foreign purchasing managers and also the ‘inward journalists mission’ helping spread the latest and newest innovations to come out of the UK. David lobbied the then DTI for funding for UK exporters and grants are now available to offset the huge expense of attending foreign trade shows as well as funding for buyers missions abroad.

As Chairman, David was subsequently elected to the BMF council and management board and elected Vice President between 1994 and 1995. He was also awarded the Marine Trade Association Personality of the Year award in 1996 for services to the marine industry and received the Boating Business ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award in 2007. David was thanked for his sterling work as one of the longest serving management board directors at an award ceremony in Egham by BMF president Jon Eades.

Involved in manufacturing since 1972, David has travelled extensively throughout the UK export markets, especially the USA. He has seen many changes in that time, including the fall of the iron curtain which resulted in opening up the entire Eastern European market and more recently the huge growth and contraction in yacht manufacturing. David is passionate about UK manufacturing and its export markets and is proud to lead a company that sources UK made components put together by a UK workforce. Barton Marine exports over 70% of its turnover to 32 countries, no mean achievement for a UK manufacturer.