Richard Fry steps down after 50 years in the industry

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The marketing director of Origin Amenity Solutions, Richard Fry, is stepping down after 50 years of working in the industry.

Fry, a well-known figure in greenkeeping, says he has been working with a new team to ensure a successful transition.

He initially spent 10 years working in a sales environment with May & Baker, at the time a key supplier of agricultural / horticultural crop and turf protection chemicals, and was then appointed as its business manager to head up and invigorate the company’s small sports and recreational division, which he renamed M&B Environmental Products. Over the next three and half years, the business became the UK’s most influential supplier of turf protection products, launching many original pesticides to the industry. He then spent a further three years managing the company’s national and international laboratory chemicals business and returned to the amenity industry and set up the marketing consultancy company, GreenLink Int, which worked with the likes of ICI, Toro, Jacobsen, Hardie, Farmura, Vitax, Supaturf, Aquatrols, Norsk Hydro, BSF, Milliken & Co, Top Green, BIGGA, BALI, STRI and many others.

He then undertook a consultancy role with Rigby Taylor.

“This relationship became much closer when the company was acquired by Origin Enterprises and I became embedded within the business as their marketing director and undertook the complete rebranding of the business,” he explained.

“A few years later Origin Amenity Solutions was formed and I was again asked to undertake the implementation and integration and bringing together under Origin Amenity Solutions banner, four leading industry brands, Rigby Taylor, Headland Amenity, Symbio and Turfkeeper.com.

“The new team will bring new ideas, energy and expertise to take the business forward, building upon the firm foundations and innovative approach to marketing that has been so much associated with Rigby Taylor’s industry presence over the past years.

“It has been a privilege directing Rigby Taylor’s marketing programme for so many years and more recently, the implementation and integration into the industry of the four Origin Amenity Solutions brands. I have had the opportunity and fantastic experiences of working in marketing roles for and with some of the major amenity industry players over the past decades and, seeing at first hand the positive and exciting changes that have occurred within the industry over this time.”

Everyone at GreenKeeping and The Golf Business wishes Richard all the best moving forward.