Sunrise Medical has appointed well-known complex rehab industry professional Jim Black as RGK’s business development manager for North America.
A three-time Paralympic athlete who then joined the complex rehab industry, Black brings more than 30 years of CRT sales, product management and marketing experience in made-to-measure manual mobility. In his new role, Black will manage the sales of RGK in the North American territory for Sunrise Medical. He will be heavily involved with the strategic and tactical development of specific product programs and oversee the ordering of every RGK chair.
“Bringing innovative solutions to the market and to the people who use our products is part of Sunrise’s and Jim’s DNA,” said Larry Jackson, president of Sunrise Medical Americas. “By helping riders get the best out of their made-to-measure mobility and continuing to develop exciting new products that exceed our customers’ expectations, Jim will be a great addition to the Sunrise Medical family.”
“As a chair rider, Paralympic athlete, and industry veteran, Jim has a very rare skill set that makes him the perfect person for this role,” said Josh Anderson, vice president of business development for Sunrise Medical Americas. “He understands first-hand how a better fit allows a rider to get the most out of a made-to-measure chair. He can visualize that next evolution of made-to-measure technology and work with the team to develop that innovation.”
Black said bringing the Staffordshire, England-based RGK’s products to North America will be a “huge benefit” to users, clinicians and dealers.
“I know Sunrise Medical,” Black said. “Larry and Josh’s vision is to be the resource within this customer base. Building a product around the rider is the answer. We are all unique with different needs, and that’s why made-to-measure is the key to a successful fit.”
Previously, Black served as the director of business development/director of sales for NuMotion, where he was responsible for the NuMotion Gateway Region, creating business organically, directing and managing ATP’s, and developing and executing education initiatives. Prior to joining NuMotion, Black was Permobil’s manual product and marketing director, and before that, he was the western regional director of sales for TiLite Manual Wheelchairs.
Before joining TiLite, Black was the manual and sport product manager for Invacare/Top End in charge of design, product planning, research and development. Prior to that, Black worked at Sunrise Medical for 16 years in a variety of roles from sales to marketing and ultimately as the global sports product manager.
“This is a dream job for me, and it is amazing to be back at Sunrise, where I started my career,” Black said. “The RGK mission matches my passion within this industry. Living in a chair is a lifestyle and RGK has many of the right answers to meet individual needs for custom ultralightweight manual mobility. I can’t wait to help people get in the proper product, as this is critical to support an active lifestyle.”
