Designs appoints new managing director

Hull-based signage specialist Designs has appointed Mark Blanchard as managing director, with founder Rob Daysley shifting to a strategic founder role.

The leadership change follows the company’s recent move to larger, energy-efficient premises and signals a new phase of momentum and innovation.

Mark, who has been with Designs for over ten years and has 16 years’ industry experience, will lead the business through its next growth phase. 

He said: “I had been knocking Rob’s door and telling him if we wanted to grow we couldn’t do it in our existing site. 

“When the right place became available it was just across the road and very short notice - we had to move quickly and we agreed the deal in a week.

“We couldn’t have put the new equipment we needed into the old building, and the move has also pushed us forward on the net-zero journey – the roof is covered with about four times as many solar panels as we had before.”

Founded by Rob in 1993, Designs has grown to a team of 50, serving local employers, national brands and the NHS. 

Notable projects include branding for Hull’s MKM Stadium and vehicle livery for Hull Kingston Rovers’ Challenge Cup parade.

Rob added: “This has been thought about and planned for a good couple of years. 

“My thoughts were that with the size the business was reaching it needed a stronger team rather than just one person. 

“I wanted people who had the ability to take the business forward to have that opportunity.

“This August marks 32 years since I began. 

“You want people with energy and ambition who can take things further than I might be able to – and you want them to share in the success of that.

“My role going forward will be more about strategy, supporting Mark and the senior leadership team and helping them to continue to increase the success. 

“It’s about finding the opportunity and coming out of the day to day of the business.”

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