Water play specialist Vortex Aquatic Structures International has hired Richard Martin as its new vice-president of product development.
Martin arrives at the Canadian company after 22 years in the toy industry, where he worked his way up from technical designer to management positions at MEGA Brands. This experience means he is keenly aware of how crucial play is to early childhood development. He has also experienced first hand with his own family how waterparks and aquatic play installations bring family members together.
In his new product development role at Vortex, Martin will help to bring team members’ best ideas to life and ensure the products they create meet the highest standards of quality and safety.
Done right, aquatic play installations can strike the right balance between the needs of developing children of all ages and abilities with those of operators concerned with safety, cost efficiency and sustainability.
“Like all of us at Vortex, Richard finds great fulfilment in seeing children develop and families share memorable experiences through play,” says Vortex International president Stephen Hamelin. “His extensive insight and track record will help drive innovation.”
Vortex boasts more than 7,600 installations in 55 countries. Its imaginative, durable aquatic play and water features can be found in public, commercial and entertainment settings. Recently the company hired Paolo Taverna as its new vice-president of operations.
