Lippert Marine names new managing director

Lippert Components Inc, the US-based manufacturer of marine components and equipment, has appointed Matthew Johnston as managing director for Lippert Marine Group Europe.

In this role, Johnston will manage three Marine Group brands – Lewmar, Trend, and Taylor Made Ireland, which includes two sites in the UK and one site in Ireland.

Johnston has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and has held several positions within Lewmar including custom and OEM sales manager, sales and marketing director, and most recently, group commercial director for Lippert’s Marine Group.

In his new role, Johnston will be responsible for growing the Lippert Marine Group footprint in Europe through product development, creating new products, and supporting acquisitions.

“It’s an exciting time to be leading the Marine Group as we develop the footprint for Lippert within Europe,” says Johnston. “In order to expedite our growth in this evolving market, we are focused on the development of our people and culture, balanced with driving innovation through product design. These building blocks are integral to elevating our customer experience as Lippert aspires to be the market leader in this arena.”

“We’re excited to have Matt lead our Lippert Marine Group Europe,” says Jim Menefee, group president of Europe. “He’s a great fit for our culture and the core values that define us as a company. Matt’s extensive experience with building outstanding customer relationships along with his product knowledge within the group will serve as a major benefit to the team as we seek to expand the marine market.”

In January, Marine Industry News reported that Lippert Marine Group Europe has partnered with UK recruiter Marine Resources to drive the expansion of its commercial team and arm the business for growth in Europe.