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Every successful business is built on the strength of its people. At the heart of our growth lies a team of exceptional individuals whose skills, dedication, and belief in our brand and products have been instrumental in driving our success and shaping the journey to where we are today.
We’d like to celebrate this incredible team with a series of articles shining a spotlight on their achievements, talents, and the unique contributions they bring to our success.
James Mellor – Cox Marine’s Technical Support Manager
James is our Technical Support Manager here at Cox Marine, and part of our knowledgeable aftersales team. It is now his tenth year at the company, having joined Cox in November 2014 as Test Technician.
“My initial responsibilities included benchmarking competitor engines and helping develop the first outboard diesel prototypes. This hands-on experience was crucial in building my technical expertise. It fuelled my passion for engine development and laid the foundation for a deep understanding of the company’s products and processes.”
James’ long-standing commitment to the company has been integral to the team, and his in-depth knowledge of the product has helped shape the aftersales team, enabling us to offer the support we do.
In his long tenure at the company, he worked for both Cox Powertrain, the engine development company, that then grew into Cox Marine, the OEM – and has witnessed the evolution of different engine variants: from the opposed piston engine and various concepts to the Magellan engine, and now the trailblazing 300 and 350 V8 diesel outboard engines.
Company development
James’s journey at Cox began in an unexpected way. Previous roles, with Ricardo and General Dynamics, were based at Brighton City Airport, where he first learnt about the innovative Cox outboard which was under development.
He says: “One day, while passing the original small lock-up opposite, I noticed the engine rigged up in a tank in the workshop. Recognising the potential of this exciting project, I approached the engineering team and arranged a meeting to discuss my background and potential contribution to the project.”
The meeting resulted in an invitation to join the team as Test Technician which had a significant impact on the engineers, freeing up their time to focus on engine development.
In the beginning
James has played a significant role in the development of The V8
Initially, he found huge satisfaction benchmarking competitor engines and developing the first prototypes on Ivy Lake near Chichester. “This phase was marked by innovation and the thrill of creating something new,” he comments.
The team carried out in a variety of unique, novel tests on the lake to test equipment.
“These included fabricating a dummy out of old clothes and life buoys for man overboard (MOB) testing and climbing a tree on the lake island to set up a sound recorder for drive-by sound tests. These unconventional tasks were far from what I envisioned when I first approached Cox,”.
Personal Development
We believe it’s vital to support our people and their personal development. Since joining Cox, James has completed a seven-year part-time Open University Engineering degree, a significant achievement which demonstrates his dedication, perseverance, and passion for continuous learning. This accomplishment highlights our commitment to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive both personally and professionally.
“This accomplishment was made possible by the knowledge I acquired from working alongside Cox Engineers, which provided me with a deeper understanding of the company’s products and processes. It was a hectic period because I was also moving homes and juggling raising two children, who are now both in school.” says James.
Final thoughts
James’s story is a testament to the power of seizing opportunities because you can never anticipate where these will lead. His decade-long journey at Cox is filled with growth, learning, and achievements that he never imagined when he first joined the company.
From his early days as a Test technician to his current role as Technical Support Manager, James has made significant contributions to Cox and continues to be an integral part of the team. His journey serves as an inspiration to others, highlighting the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and continuous learning.
