Member Article

New Managing Director at Barrier Limited

Barrier Limited, the Wallsend-based industrial coatings specialist, which is part of the Barrier Group, has named experienced Commercial Manager Paul Harriman as its new Managing Director.

He replaces Robert Bowles who has become Barrier Group Chairman.

Paul, who joined Barrier straight from school in 1979 and has enjoyed two spells with the company, will be responsible for the day to day running of the business, which is a leading specialist in the field of corrosion and fire protection in offshore, petrochemical and construction projects.

Joining as a trainee Quantity Surveyor, Paul progressed to become Estimating Manager overseeing multi-million pound tenders in the UK and overseas.

With an emphasis on offshore and heavy industrial coatings, passive fire protection, epoxy intumescent, cementitious and concrete coatings, the tenders saw Barrier expanding into markets including Abu Dhabi, Finland and Singapore.

Paul, who is from County Durham, gained further experience in other industrial sectors, including Ship Repair and Engineering, with a five year spell away from Barrier for Denholm Industrial Services and AMEC.

He returned to the business in 2001 as Commercial Manager, a position he has held until becoming Managing Director.

Barrier Group was formed in 1975 to carry out painting of structures to be installed as part of the growing North Sea oil industry. The company has gone on to complete more than 200 major contracts, totalling millions of square metres of surface protection and has worked for most of the world’s major oil companies.

More recently the company has expanded its operations beyond the oil sector and the group now carries out passive fire protection, metal spraying, powder coating and sub-sea insulation across the aerospace, marine and offshore renewable energy sectors.

Paul Harriman said: “While trading within the offshore new build market remains competitive, the Barrier name, which has been associated with the painting industry since 1975 still remains a major selling point and is associated with delivering quality projects to our clients.

“I am very proud to become Managing Director at the company where I began my career 33 years ago. The company has enjoyed continual growth under the stewardship of Robert Bowles and I look forward to working with him in his new role of Group Chairman.

Robert Bowles said: “Paul’s knowledge and experience, both of our business and the sectors in which we operate, made him the ideal choice for Managing Director. We have worked closely together for many years and I am delighted that his commitment to Barrier has been rewarded with this promotion. As Chairman I can support the continued growth of the group, which includes our recently acquired Insulation and Architectural Services Division.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Recognition PR Business Team .