Ambitious Harvard to light way across the Middle East

Harvard Engineering, a business that makes energy saving tools for the lighting industry, is to expand into the Middle East.
Harvard Engineering's MD John McDonnellHarvard Engineering's MD John McDonnell
Harvard Engineering's MD John McDonnell

The Wakefield-based company, which is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of LED products for the lighting industry, has appointed Arsalan Bari as business development manager for the region.

Harvard said Mr Bari will bring a wide range of knowledge and expertise to the role following six years in the lighting industry.

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Most recently he worked as the LED business development manager at Tridonic’s Middle Eastern office, responsible for building sales in the region and increasing market share and profita- bility.

Michael McDonnell, business development director at Harvard Engineering, said: “The appointment of Arsalan Bari as business development manager for the Middle East provides significant opportunities for Harvard.

“We are excited to move into this new market and look forward to seeing how it develops following our success in Europe, America and Australia.”

The expansion into the Middle East is part of Harvard’s five-year growth strategy to increase exports from 25 per cent of turnover at the end of 2011 to 50 per cent by the end of 2015.

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Mr Bari said: “Harvard has proved so much in such a short space of time. It has not only established itself as a worthy name in the lighting industry but is also setting the standard for its competitors.

People across Europe, America and Australia know Harvard as a quality brand and a company they can trust and I want to extend this image across the Middle East.”

Earlier this year, the company appointed sales representatives in the Benelux region, adding to the existing sales representation in France, Italy, Germany and the US.

Harvard also has distribution partnerships in the United Arab Emirates, Australia and the Czech Republic.

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Mr McDonnell said: “We have been spending an awful lot of money over the previous 18 years in R&D, and have grown our R&D department substantially and we are seeing the fruits of that investment now.

“We’ve launched new products into new markets and they have been successful.”

He added: “Innovation is the number one priority. We spend a lot of money developing new ideas and launching new products into our existing, and into new, markets and continually re-inventing ourselves, looking for the next new thing whilst keeping a lid on costs and trying to stay with the market while it’s being commoditised.”

The biggest growth for Harvard Engineering has been street lighting controls, where lights can be dimmed to save energy, along with LED lighting.

The firm has plans to create 300 jobs over the next five years.

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