Hudson, 39, joined Centa as a mechanical engineering apprentice in 1993 and, most recently, worked as couplings manager.
“Bob and I both share a passion for couplings and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him over the years,” he says. “He’s grown Centa into a world-class, £5m business and it is my aim to continue a level of sustainable growth that will further enhance our reputation in the global power transmission industry.
Arnott, who retired on 1 May, will continue in a technical advisory role as Centa’s chairman. “After 17 years with Centa, I’m extremely proud of where we are today,” he says. “I’ve overseen many positive changes including a move from pencil-drawn plans to 3D plans, two phases of expansion of our manufacturing facility, and the doubling of our total workforce.
Handing over the reins: Centa Transmissions' new managing director Darren Hudson (left) with his predecessor Bob Arnott
He predicts that Hudson “will bring professionalism, experience and new ideas, using new technologies, to the business. I will support his objective of achieving sustainable growth in every way I can in my role as chairman and wish him, and the team, every success for a profitable future.”
Hudson says that he is “looking forward to working with our highly skilled team to deliver work that exceeds customers’ expectations. I already have a number of new plans for Centa and will be sharing details of these developments over the coming months.”
