Richard Griffiths leaves Shimano after 15 years for Solar Tackle

Richard Griffiths has left Shimano after 15 years to join UK carp company Solar Tackle as Product Manager.

Griffiths, a dedicated carp angler, has been recruited by the Kent business to help it achieve its ambitious growth plans for the future. Solar, founded by former carp world record holder, Martin Locke in 1987, was acquired by investors in 2016 with the intent of establishing it among the market’s biggest brands.

Griffiths left his Brand Manager role at Shimano in October and will start his new position at Solar on January 10th.

“I worked closely with Solar when I was with Shimano and have big respect for the brand,” he told Angling International. “The ambition was a big pull for me. There is lots of scope and some serious investment. Growth in the company will be massive.

“Solar is one of only a few companies with a real heritage in carp fishing. It is a brand that can command high price points for products the consumer loves. I want to help bring new and unique products to market.”

Solar’s Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Bones, said Griffiths will be chiefly responsible for the planning and delivery of product development strategy. “We have aggressive expansion plans for the next three to five years and Richard will be an important resource in delivering those. The COVID pandemic slowed our pace of development a little as we focused more on supply and logistics, but our investors have great enthusiasm for the industry and we definitely have the resources to achieve our goals. It’s just a question of the timeline.”

Solar already has a warehouse and office in Europe and is just embarking on a big online, trade-focused project due to be launched in 2023. “Supporting large online retailers is a big part of its plan,” added Bones.

Locke, who set his world carp record in 1996, remains an important asset on the engineering side of the business as well as acting as a Brand Ambassador.