Barry Leahey MBE, Managing Director of Playdale Playgrounds has been announced as the new Institute of Directors (IoD) Chairman of the Cumbria region. This position will see him work with the organisation’s 2000 members and with Rathbone Investment Management to organise events in Cumbria throughout the year.
As an organisation for leaders across all sectors, shapes and sizes of business the IoD supports members to be the best leaders they can be.
Claire Ebrey, Regional Director for the North West and the Isle of Man congratulated Barry on his appointment and said: “Barry has contributed significantly to the IoD in the region since he became a member. Deservedly recognised as the IoD’s Global Director of the Year at our North West awards in 2018, he embodies the entrepreneurial ambition that our region is proud to celebrate. We are delighted that he will be playing such a pivotal role within the development of the Cumbrian branch over the next few years.”
Barry began working for Cumbrian based playground manufacturer Playdale in 2004 as Sales and Marketing Director and progressed more recently to Managing Director in 2015. Barry’s drive and passion to ensure that Playdale is the best they can be at export have been relentless in the last seven years, having started and led Playdale’s export mission to ensure they are now a growing global business covering 49 countries.
Barry has a proven track record in senior leadership and will work alongside the regional team to support a growing membership base of business leaders. Having a great understanding of Cumbria and the North West as a whole, Barry can actively promote the IoD as an organisation within the Cumbria business community, public sector and policymakers.
Speaking about being chosen for this new role Barry said “The Institute of Directors is a dynamic and highly respected organisation, so I am delighted to be the IoD’s new Cumbria Chair and part of their Regional Committee. It is a great honour and I will do my utmost to promote the IoD as a powerful platform to communicate the matters that affect our region, both now and into the future.”
Learn more about Playdale Playgrounds visit: www.playdale.co.uk
