Oxford: Airdri Group appoints new head of business development

Oxford-based hand dryer manufacturer Airdri has welcomed Joe Pearce (pictured) to its senior team as head of business development.  

The company laid down ambitious expansion plans at the beginning of the year, and after a strong first quarter is investing further in its sales and marketing division to achieve exponential growth across the rest of 2021. 

Having recently launched a new range of eco hand dryers, as well as pivoting during the pandemic to become one of the UK’s leading suppliers of SteraSpace air sanitisation units, the firm is on course for a record year. 

Pearce has been brought on board to lead the company’s sales team, to identify and develop new areas of growth and improve profitability within existing revenue streams. Prior roles for Pearce have included national account manager at Mattel, sales and training partner at Dyson and sales director at Annabel Karmel. 

Talking of his new role, Pearce said: "It’s an exciting time to join the dynamic, hugely experienced sales and marketing team at Airdri. The brand is staying true to its ethos of innovation and sustainability within the sector. It has some exciting new products in the pipeline, as well as continuing to drive forward standards in the manufacture of reliable high-quality, industry-leading hand dryers. There is a strong team in place already which I’m very much looking forward to becoming part of."

Steve Whittall, group research and development director said: "Joe joins the Airdri Group at a pivotal time as we expand into new markets and solidify our reputation as an innovative force in the global hand drying industry. Our business is growing at pace, and we know that in order to continue the upward curve, we must continually invest in the right personnel. We have appointed Joe, who has a wealth of leadership and sales development across various different sectors in UK and European markets, to push forward our business development strategy nationwide and internationally."

The Airdri Group was founded in Oxfordshire in 1974 by business partners Peter Philipps and Peter Allen, both experienced and entrepreneurial engineers. Peter Philipps’ sons, Toby and Bruce, now lead the company as chairman and president respectively and their fathers’ vision continues to grow through the expertise of the creative team they have and continue to nurture.