Amazone Ltd has announced the retirement of managing director Simon Brown, following 40 years with the company.
After leaving Harper Adams with an HND in Agricultural Engineering in 1981 and spending time within the dealer network, Simon joined Amazone Ltd’s parent company, Amazonen-Werke in 1982. He worked as a field service engineer, travelling extensively across Germany before returning to the UK in 1983 ahead of the opening of Amazone Ltd.
In the early years of the business, he looked after both parts distribution and field service for the whole of Britain, before taking a role in sales, covering the areas of Yorkshire, East Midlands and East Anglia.
In 2002, Simon took the role of national service manager, based at the company’s headquarters at Harworth, Lincolnshire. At this time, the company also acted as an importer of Krone forage products, Strautmann diet feeders and Elho bale wrappers – for which Simon also oversaw the service.
As the Amazone portfolio continued to grow, Amazone Ltd terminated its agreements with other suppliers and Simon took the responsibility of brand manager, which he continued to hold alongside his current role of managing director.
His final task for the company will be managing the stand at Cereals 2024 and the company is inviting all those who have worked with, or interacted with Simon across his career to come and share their memories.
“It will be odd not having Simon around supporting the business after so many years. We are though extremely happy that Simon has used his foresight to build up a professional team around him which will secure an efficient handover to the following management” said Christian Dreyer, chairman of the board and owner of the Amazonen-Werke.
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Matt Smith, who is currently the national sales manager for the company, will step into the role of managing director following Simon’s retirement. Jane Braun has been appointed to the new role of operations manager, looking after parts and whole goods distribution; Becky Drobnica is joining the company as admin and HR manager; while Rob Watson will continue as national aftersales manager and John Spencer will continue to handle finance.
Two new Harper Adams graduates have also joined the team, including local farmer’s son and photographer David Thomson, who joins as a marketing specialist, and James Rodgers who will take the role of business support specialist.
“We have such a great, long-serving team here at Amazone who have a vast depth of knowledge and experience and the beauty of Matt taking on the mantle is that it ensures the continuity of the business for next generation and I wish him all the best for the future,” said Simon.
“Of course, I will still be keeping an eye on things from the outside making sure they are doing it all properly.”
For more information go to www.amazone.co.uk