NEWS
Durata director Andy Mullen , company secretary Alison McGee and managing director John McGee celebrate the company ’ s shirt sponsorship deal with
Hartlepool United midfielders Gavan Holohan and Nicky Featherstone .
How sports focus gives Durata a competitive edge
STRIVING TO BE
O
Leading from the front is something Durata wanted to do from the start of its journey to deliver critical power infrastructure around the world .
once you have more than a brief chat with managing director John McGee and installations director Andy Mullen , it ’ s easy to see where such desire stems from .
Both have been talented athletes over the years , albeit in different areas . Even though they are aged either side of 50 , there is a similar mentality – and even a sense that they still harbour hopes of reaching the top of their sport themselves .
While John , nursing broken ribs and a fractured wrist from a recent accident on his bike , dreams of appearing in the Tour de France , Andy is working his way down the wing and scoring goals in the North-East ’ s over-40s football league . Neither can – or , crucially , want – to give it up .
That steely determination is reflected in how they run their business from Durata ’ s base of one year at TeesAmp on Middlesbrough ’ s Riverside Park . And , as it continues to grow as a company , its marketing is being reflected on the sporting stage too .
Not only is Durata ’ s logo a long-standing presence on the number one pro-continental cycling team in the UK , Ribble Weldtite , it is also on the back of Hartlepool United ’ s away shirt in the English Football League .
FIRST
John and his wife Alison , the company secretary , are also corporate season ticket holders at their beloved Middlesbrough FC , where Durata is a platinum sponsor of the MFC Foundation .
John said : “ You know what ? Cycling is not easy , sport isn ’ t easy . It ’ s hard to stay at the top of your game . But business is hard and there is a synergy there .
“ It is hard work being at the top of your game , constantly improving , developing , finding new ways to grow , angles to get ahead and to stay ahead .”
Because John and Andy love sport , it ’ s easy to understand why they are keen to have Durata ’ s branding showcased in that world . Clearly , though , it is clever marketing , too , with the name being spotted in photographs and videos .
“ When we met Dan Bigham , one of the Ribble Weldtite team , a few years ago , we were , in essence , both punching above our weight , and that ’ s where it all started really ,” said John .
“ I am a 49-year-old and I still haven ’ t written off being part of the Tour de France one day ! I do the Alps , I have done the Col du Glandon , Galibier and Mont Ventoux . I like riding in the spring classics , Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders .”
88 | Tees Business