Helen McHugh has been appointed as the new head of product research at ebm-papst UK.

She has been with the company for 16 years with previous roles as divisional manager for the Industrial Engineering Division and, more recently, as head of sustainable technology for five years.

Helen’s new role is a completely new position within the company after ebm-papst identified a need to focus its R&D operations on requirements from existing clients and emerging markets. Much of her background has involved R&D so the change of focus at ebm-papst will lend itself well to her previous experience.

Responsibility for products at ebm-papst in the UK will fall under Helen’s supervision until the point of launch where responsibility will be passed onto James Cooper, the UK’s product manager. Part of Helen’s new role will require her to look at supporting the development of new product ranges, which will fall into markets not previously explored by ebm-papst.