One of the UK’s leading suppliers of specialist metals and material has made a high-profile appointment as it targets a record-breaking year.

Claire Hartley has joined Goodfellow Cambridge as Chief Marketing Officer to support the firm’s move into new sectors and ambitious growth plans that will see it hit £25m by the end of 2023.

The former Sheffield University graduate will use her skills in strategic planning, marketing output and transformation to help build the brand and the Huntingdon-based firm’s reputation for delivering innovation.

An initial focus will be on creating a stronger digital presence and customer experience, as well as reinforcing impact in key sectors and supporting expansion into new markets, including aerospace.

“This is a very exciting time to be joining Goodfellow Cambridge, following its acquisition by Battery Ventures and recent growth in both established and new markets,” explained Claire, who has previously held senior roles at Xeros Technology Group, 10to8 and Capita plc.

“We have a strong reputation in supplying metals, alloys, ceramics, glasses, polymers, compounds, composites for the science and R&D industries. The opportunity now is to take this unrivalled capability into a host of sectors that would benefit from the specialist materials and technical expertise we can provide.”

She went on to add: “Working with my multi-skilled marketing team and aligning closely with sales, we will focus on activities and content, leveraging our growing digital channels to reach our client base.

“I’m really passionate about brand stories, engagement and being the customer champion and this will be central to all of our marketing going forward.”

Goodfellow Cambridge has an extensive range of 150,000 catalogue products in multiple forms available off the shelf, most subject to free delivery within 48 hours and with no minimum order quantities.

It also offers a comprehensive range of bespoke processing services, effectively operating as an extension of a customer’s production team to develop custom-fabricated components in any quantity required.

Claire continued: “Another important aspect of the marketing mix will be positioning Goodfellow Cambridge as an expert in our field. This will be through thought leadership articles, technical talks from Dr Aphrodite Tomou and attendance at strategic exhibitions like Space-Comm Expo 2023.

“The latter was a hugely successful show, with lots of conversations taking place about how our materials can make a difference to companies involved in manufacturing in space.”

Simon Kenney, CEO of Goodfellow Cambridge, concluded: “We’re excited to have attracted Claire to the team as we continue to make the move towards becoming a marketing-led business.

“Our manufacturing processes and materials are helping companies change the world every day and now it’s time we told everyone about it.”