Barrus’ MD, Robert Muir, to retire

Robert Muir, MD of Barrus Ltd, will retire from his position in December 2023. He’s been with the company for 32 years, including more than 11 as MD.

Muir joined Barrus in 1990 from Ransomes Consumer, where he was MD. The Barrus board says Muir has contributed enormously to the growth and success of Barrus during his tenure. First as a highly capable finance director ensuring the financial stability of the company; and then as sales director and then MD. As well as being a popular leader of the company, the board says he is hugely respected by both Barrus’ suppliers and customers.

Muir was instrumental in taking Barrus into the Garden Tools market, first with Wolf-Garten, then Wilkinson Sword and Town & Country.

More recently he has been leading the drive on electrification within the markets that Barrus operates in, not least with the design and building of a hydrogen fuel cell powered inland waterways vessel.

Odgers Berndtson has been appointed to lead the search to identify Muir’s successor.

“It is hard to know where to start to thank Robert for his dedication to Barrus and his friendship to me and my family. There have been some interesting times over the last 32 years and Robert’s unwavering commitment has served us very well,” says Robert Glen, owner of Barrus.

“I have known and worked with Robert for over three decades. He is a tremendous leader and on a personal level, adviser, so I am thrilled that we will retain his wise counsel and expertise as he has agreed to remain on the board of the company as a non-executive director,” says Tara Glen, Barrus chairman.

Barrus is the exclusive distributor for many major international companies like Yanmar diesel marine inboard engines, Mariner and Mercury outboard engines, WhisperPower, Cub Cadet garden machinery, Wolf-Garten, Town & Country and Wilkinson Sword garden tools, and Yanmar & John Deere industrial engines.

Barrus also custom builds products to specific end-uses or market requirements; whether for the MoD, RNLI, H.M. Coastguard or original equipment manufacturers.