Sonardyne Appoints Managing Director and Chairman

Barry, 60, has led Sonardyne's growth over the last three years, taking the company into new markets and guiding its investment in acquisitions and new product development. As group chairman, he will continue to provide strategic and financial guidance through the next stage of the company's development. John Partridge, Sonardyne's founder and current chairman, will continue to be involved with the business on a day-to-day basis and will remain on the board.

Mr Ramsden, 45, joined Sonardyne in 1996 during the early years of the company's expansion in the Asia Pacific region. Over the last three years he has led the Singapore office group through significant sales growth and the team's transition to a new custom-built sales, support and engineering facility in January 2009.

John and his family will relocate back to the UK over the next few months.