New Navtec France General Manager

Ex-Carbospars/Future Fibres man John Hodgart gets the nod

Lewmar's Navtec Rigging Product Group has appointed John Hodgart as General Manager for Navtec France. Strategically based in Mandelieu, near Cannes, Hodgart will run this site and work with the Navtec group to develop rigging solutions for its customers worldwide. The Mandelieu facility currently offers full rigging and hydraulics service to sailing yachts throughout the Mediterranean.

John joins the company with extensive experience in composite rigging. He was general manager of Future Fibres for over nine years: first establishing the business in the UK and most recently setting up and running its production facility in Valencia, Spain. In addition to developing composite rigging fittings and quality production techniques, he also has composite spar manufacturing experience from his time spent at Carbospars as Production Manager during the 1990s.

With a BSc in Engineering from Edinburgh University, Hodgart is also the author of 'Dinghy Systems' and part of the winning British Team in 1987 and 1993 at the International 14's World Championships in Japan and Canada.

"We are delighted to welcome John to Navtec," comments Peter Tierney CEO of Lewmar." His experience in the rigging and spar industry coupled with expertise in the production of composites will provide the business with great leadership and technical ability."