BGB appoints experienced duo to help drive global growth

Leigh Smith (left) and Tony Conroy

Two business development experts have joined Grantham-based global engineering firm BGB, helping to cement a pivotal first quarter of growth for the business. The appointments of Tony Conroy and Leigh Smith come hot on the heels of two previous appointments, made earlier in 2025, which saw Dr Ben Murphy join as head of product development, and the arrival of a third generation to the family business in Alex Holt, a management trainee and son of current CEO David Holt.

Founded in 1976, by David Holt senior, the company currently employs 100 people in the UK and the USA, working with industry giants such as Siemens and Vestas to provide innovative solutions like slip rings and fibre-optic rotary joints (FORJ).

Despite approaching its 50th year in business, 2024 and 2025 have proven to be landmark years for growth across the business, with first quarter results exceeding expectations. Mr Conroy, head of channel development and Mr Smith, key account manager, have been tasked with driving further market expansion and engaging with new and existing partners.

Uniquely positioned within the Humber Estuary — a hub of activity for the offshore wind industry and home to brands like Siemens Gamesa, Ørsted and RWE — Mr Smith brings with him over four decades’ worth of engineering and sales experience in key energy sectors, such as oil and gas and renewables, alongside the marine and ports industry.

Vital role
Working remotely from his home in Hull, Mr Smith will be in a prime position to tap into the local appetite for wind, including the wider demand for its resources and the vital role it plays to the UK’s offshore wind sector. In addition to becoming the key account manager for BGB customers and industry leaders, including both Siemens and Nordex, he will also promote the company’s burgeoning spares and repairs service — a category flourishing with the ongoing drive towards sustainability.

Mr Smith said: “I have spent my career walking the line between hands-on engineering and strategic sales in energy sectors that do not stand still. What drew me to BGB was simple — it is future-minded, technically credible and deeply rooted in renewables. We are not just selling products here, we are offering long-term value. My goal with this new role is to build solid partnerships — ones that outlast a turbine’s lifecycle and make a real dent in how sustainability is delivered at scale.”

Meanwhile, Mr Conroy will manage BGB’s channel partners across the UK, EMEA and the Asia Pacific regions, developing relationships with current and future channel partners and distributors — key to the company’s wider strategy. With nearly 30 years’ experience in international sales across the energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing sector, Mr Conroy brings a wealth of experience in mechanical and electrical engineered products.

Relationship-led approach
Having worked extensively with manufacturers supplying the power and renewables sectors, with a focus on offshore wind, he is known for his strategic, relationship-led approach. He is a strong advocate of in-person engagement with partners and distributors, viewing collaboration as essential to building lasting, high-value partnerships. His experience in developing and revitalising international distribution networks will be key to expanding BGB’s global footprint.

Together, they plan to network across the industrial sectors BGB serves, expand its current wastewater management business, in locations like the Middle East, and explore other areas of the renewable energy industry, such as cable-laying vessels and crane systems.

Mr Conroy said: “Relationships are everything and I have joined BGB because it is an organisation that gets that. We are not here to do transactional sales — we hope to become a trusted extension of our partners’ teams. Face-to-face, feet-on-the-ground, sleeves-rolled-up. If we do this right, when our partners get into work on a Monday morning, BGB will be at the top of their minds.”

BGB’s CEO David Holt added: “Leigh and Tony bring a sharp mix of practical experience and strategic thinking, exactly what BGB needs as we evolve. They understand the sectors we serve, but perhaps more importantly, they understand the people in them. That human connection is what will keep us ahead in renewables, wastewater and beyond, and we are excited about the next chapter of innovation.”

BGB has been operating since 1976, designing and engineering smart rotary solutions for the renewable energy, construction, utilities and transport sectors. The family-owned business operates across key European markets including Spain, Denmark and Germany, where it is a market leader in rotary solutions for the renewable energy sector.