Harken Yacht Equipment Announces Addition of Senior Engineering Director of Product Research and Development

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Harken Yacht Equipment Announces Addition of Senior Engineering Director of Product Research and Development

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Pewaukee, WI—Harken Yacht Equipment announced today the appointment of Wes Wilcox as its Senior Engineering Director of Product Research and Development. This newly created engineering role is designed to expand on Harken’s current leadership position in innovation through an increased rate of new product introductions and expanded R&D programs. Wilcox joins Harken from Trek Bicycle Corp., where he was the company’s Director of Advanced Research and Development.

Wilcox, who begins with Harken in mid July, will be based in Harken USA’s office in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He will be managing any reorganization and modernization of Harken’s R&D process by establishing Harken USA’s “future state direction” for the company’s R&D. Harken’s Product Development Manager, Dan Rondeau, will report to Wilcox and will take an active role in this reorganization. Wilcox will be responsible for strategic planning and support of all R&D efforts and will report to Harken’s CEO Peter Harken.

Working at Trek since 1989, Wilcox led their engineering team and advanced concept group, (ACG) in development of cutting edge bicycle technology. Wilcox was directly responsible for Trek’s development of the company’s first production full suspension mountain bikes. He also helped develop Trek’s proprietary OCLV carbon fiber production process and spearheaded all special product development for Lance Armstrong and Team Discovery during Armstrong’s storied seven-year sweep of the Tour de France.

“We couldn’t think of a better fit than Wes Wilcox and Harken Yacht Equipment,” explained company founder Peter Harken. “Harken is known worldwide as a leader in innovative product development for production boats, Grand Prix boats and large custom yachts. It’s with guys like Wes that we are investing to maintain this dominant position for the future.”

Aside from the impressive background in Engineering and R&D Wilcox brings to Harken, he is also a long time sailor, currently racing both single- and double-handed catamarans and DN Iceboats.