Ross Pike joins the business in his new role as Estimator, whereby he will be managing everything from initial enquiries through to handing approved proposals over to our projects team, including overseeing the sales pipeline, surveying works, and producing estimates for clients.

Ross takes on the mantle at SD Marine Interiors following over a decade in the industrial design sector, most recently as Operations Director for a leading exhibition design specialist.

He joins the team at a period of rapid growth for the business, which is looking forward to a busy few months as it prepares for large-scale repair work in Canada, Spain and Germany to name but a few projects on the horizon.

On becoming SD’s newest Estimator, Ross said: “I’m over the moon to be joining SD Marine Interiors at such an exciting time for the company. Having worked in design for a number of years, this feels like the perfect time to bring my skills to a new industry, and  I’m very much looking forward to being a part of an outfit that is as knowledgeable and dedicated as this one.

“SD has long been a respected player in the repairs sector and I hope that I can bring my own experience and expertise to the marine team as they prepare for a number of new projects around the world.”

Managing Director Simon Dawkins said of the appointment: “We’re delighted to have Ross joining the SD Marine Interiors team; he brings with him some incredible expertise in the design space and will no doubt be a huge asset to us going forward.

“We’re just over halfway through the year and already we can see that 2025 is going to be an incredibly busy and prosperous time for our interiors team, and so having someone of Ross’ calibre on the crew will make the world of difference.”

SD offers a full range of outfitting services for the cruise industry, from cabins to public areas. We are supported by over 120 full-time Hard Surface Repair technicians, seven distribution sites across the UK and a wider team boasting vast knowledge and experience of the marine outfitting industry. To find out more about our marine interiors work and how we can help you, visit the services page here.

The show, which took place from the 6th – 7th June at the Miami Beach Convention Centre, housed over 250 ground-breaking brands, design studios, outfitters and suppliers and brought together industry leaders from all over the world.

This year’s SD Marine Interiors team, led by Managing Director Simon Dawkins, were presenting their full range of expert refit and repair offerings to clients old and new.

The CSI Expo has always been a great opportunity to meet with the best and brightest of the marine interiors industry, but this year has been a standout event for the SD team.

On attending the show this year, MD Simon Dawkins said: “We always say that the CSI Expo is an event not to be missed, and this year was no exception. We had the opportunity to meet with a plethora of new and potential US and European clients, as well as a range of suppliers of goods and labour that will no doubt expand our already strong supply chain.

“I’m pleased to say that our stand was a huge success this year also, with one member of our team even conducting a survey on the second day for a new client who, after seeing the live demos we were presenting, asked for our expert team to survey for even more repairs than they had originally mapped out.”

This year, SD Marine Interiors was the lanyard sponsor for the event and we were delighted with how they turned out – it was great to see so many people walking around the show with SD branding on full display.

Simon added: “The SD Marine Interiors name is really out there now, and is expanding into a booming market space. We can’t wait to see what the European show brings later in the year!”

SD Marine Interiors offers a full range of outfitting and hard surface repair services to the maritime industry. From full cabin refits through to fixing imperfections in communal areas, we provide a complete range of solutions so that you can maintain the highest of standards.

To find more information on our marine interiors services, visit             https://www.sdteam.co.uk/sectors/marine/.

As part of the SD group of companies, we provide a full range of marine interior design and build services to cruise operators worldwide, and will now be strengthening our offering in the marine sector with the addition of Simon at the helm.

Having spent over a decade working in the marine outfitting industry, Simon Dawkins’ move to SD follows his role as Director of Sales for Trimline, where he led the sales and marketing division and advised on all commercial aspects of the business for a number of years.

Nick Jones, Managing Director at SD, said on the appointment: “Simon is an extremely well-respected and experienced figure in the cruise industry and I can think of no better person to be at the forefront of our marine interiors outfit. He’s worked with some of the best names in the business, and we’re delighted to have his expertise on board.

“He already has ambitious plans for the marine interiors division and I look forward to seeing what the coming months bring for this team.”

SD Marine Interiors are supported by over 120 full-time hard surface repair technicians, seven distribution sites across the UK and a wider team of over 200 providing sealants and outfitting services for cruise operators including Windstar, AIDA and Phoenix Reisen.

On his new role, Simon said: “I’m delighted to be coming into the fold here at SD – this is a pioneering business in the repairs and outfitting industry and I’m looking forward to forging a new path with the support of Nick and the team behind me.

“We’re expecting to add some new faces to the marine interiors team very shortly, and given that the wider SD team is very focused on sustainable methods of construction, I’m eager to explore new opportunities within the cruise sector for us to take as green an approach as possible. Everybody wants a more sustainable future but there is still work to be done, and I’m keen to make that a top priority for the business going forward.

“In the meantime, we have a number of exciting projects lined up and will be in Miami this June for my inaugural Interiors Expo with SD, which I’m very much looking forward to.”

Launched in 1973, SD teams and Cosmetic Repairs originated as a family run business in Somerset that specialised in the supply and application of sealant.

Since then, it has steadily grown to be one of the largest finishing and repairs specialists in the UK with nine offices across England, Scotland and Wales.

In 2019, the SD team took its experience and knowledge of sealants, resins and hard surface repairs and developed a leading outfitting service for the marine sector, expanding to include a full range of marine interior trades and services.

For more information, visit https://www.sdmarineinteriors.com/.