CIM is pleased to announce the appointment of Keith Blundy MCIM and Chartered Marketer as its new Manufacturing & Innovation Ambassador for the North East.

Keith is Managing Director of Aegies Associates Ltd in Newton Aycliffe and has over 35 years' experience working across various roles in the Manufacturing, Technology Management and Product Development; including more than 25 years at director level.

He has worked across a broad spectrum of industries including Industrial Products, Oil & Gas, Marine and Defence and for the last 12 years in various consultancy roles helping organisations with their product development and marketing strategy. Keith started his career as an electronics engineer before moving on to programme & product management. He has had director level experience in Engineering, Product Innovation and Marketing as well as operations and as Managing Director in large and small organisations.

Keith commented, "I am thrilled to be taking on this role for the CIM. Nearly all of my career has been involved in the design and manufacture of products for complex global markets where the combination of engineering and marketing have been critically important. My business education came about because of a need to speak the language of international marketing. I have often found myself as the only professional marketer in the organisation and the support I have received from the CIM and fellow members has been invaluable in helping me build my career."  He continued, "I am excited that this role brings the opportunity for the CIM to support members in manufacturing and product innovation businesses and for their owners and managers to access best practice marketing skills."

Keith is also a part industrial tutor at Durham University where he works with MEng Students on Product Design with special emphasis on product management and marketing.  He is an MBA and has been the recipient of two Queen's Awards for Innovation & Technology - both having had to demonstrated the successful global strategic marketing of manufactured products.

Diane Earles, Network Manager for CIM, said "Keith is a passionate marketer and we are delighted to appoint such an experienced marketer to this role."