ION Science appoints four directors for strategic evolution and developing success

ION Science, a leading manufacturer of gas detection equipment and OEM PID (photoionisation detection) gas sensors, have appointed four directors to headline its new board and deliver ION Science’s ambitious plans for further growth. The board will be instrumental in forging and delivering a long-term strategic growth plan and to deliver repeated profitable results.

Duncan Johns has led the company for more than 23 years, but ION Science’s high business performance meant additional capacity was required to ensure the appropriate support was available to deliver pioneering plans for further growth. As such, it was imperative to get the right people on the board to lead the ongoing development and change.

Steve Newcomb joined early last year as an experienced operations director. As a professional engineering business leader, Steve has more than 30 years’ experience within technical manufacturing and engineering sectors, both within multinational corporate and private SME businesses. Steve’s experience is invaluable in operations, supply chain, engineering, and manufacturing. However, Steve has also demonstrated his experience as a senior board member and has been promoted to Deputy Managing Director, supporting all aspects of the business when Duncan is involved elsewhere.

Jason Evans, who joined late last year as Commercial Director, brings a strong background in high performance technologies from both privately owned SMEs and publicly listed global businesses. His previous work has covered markets that include MedTech, consumer electronics, digital imaging, and a variety of high energy RF industries. His solid understanding of global markets will help provide further focus on delivering growth and driving shareholder value.

Garfay Liu has been with the company for three years. Whilst heading up the R&D function for the last three years, he has now been promoted to R&D Director. Garfay has more than 15 years’ experience in managing technology product developments for commercial, medical, and industrial applications. His leadership style has helped grow high performing technical teams applied to product development, and he will be instrumental in technology research, applications, and new product development.

Nicki Howard joined the company last year as head of Finance and was promoted to Finance Director in April this year. Nicki brings 17 years of finance experience, knowledge of effective financial controls and processes, and a desire to work inclusively across the business. Nicki trained professionally in PwC’s audit practice, where she worked on a variety of SMEs and large listed clients in various industries. More recently, she worked as a Group Financial Controller at a large, global manufacturing company, which provided transferable experience and skills applicable to ION Science.

Managing Director Duncan Johns commented on the appointments: “We have made good progress on developing our product roadmap, and this has led to considerable additional recruitment and changes to the structure of teams, which has itself created further roles. It is exciting bringing in great new talent, as well as internally promoting others, to create this strong strategic board to support ION Science through the next stage of its journey".

The new strategic board appointments are a fitting development for ION Science. In addition to the new hires, a new research and development building was commissioned late in 2021 and is due for completion in early 2023. The building will support dedicated research and development activity, further strengthening ION Science’s position as an OEM leader for PID technology and gas detection.