In Memoriam: Curtis Mourns Mr. Richard Sadler

It is with great sadness that the company mourns the passing of Mr. Richard Sadler, an important colleague who was instrumental in the both the company’s growth and the internationalization of Curtis. He passed away on December 30,2021, after a three-year battle with cancer. Mr. Sadler was a dedicated and respected leader, a major contributor to the international success of Curtis over 32 years. His keen instincts and in depth knowledge of our markets and products were influential in setting policy and direction for Curtis worldwide. His contributions to the success of the company are immeasurable. Everyone knew him to be unpretentious, down-to-earth, strong in his convictions, and hard working. He had the respect of everyone who worked with him. Mr. Sadler was hired in 1983 by then president, Edward Marwell, as the second Managing Director of Curtis UK Curtis Instruments (UK) Ltd., the first European subsidiary in Northampton, England. During his tenure, Mr. Sadler developed Curtis UK into one of the company’s most important European entities. When Mr. Sadler Sadler came on board as managing director there were ten employees. Over the next years, he developed Curtis U.K. into a thriving, profitable business with over approximately 50 employees today. A hallmark of his managerial approach was his emphasis on staff development and team building. He also played key roles in setting up Curtis subsidiaries in India, France, Germany and Sweden. England and France were the first primary locations for Curtis in Europe, as these two countries were large hubs for forklift truck manufacturing activities, the industry where Mr. Sadler developed his expertise in material handling. In 2007, Mr. Sadler was promoted to the worldwide position as Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, a role that perfectly fit his broad knowledge of our markets, the industries we serve and the products needed for global success. He retired from the company in 2016 to spend more time with his family on their beautiful farm outside of Northampton. His protégé Barry Langsford subsequently took over the management of Curtis UK. He continued on as a member of the Board of Directors of Curtis Instruments, Inc. and various other Curtis subsidiaries. Curtis employees worldwide will miss Mr. Sadler greatly.

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