Derrick Ross’s loyalty to the company has been evident since he first set up ARRI’s UK subsidiary in 1983. At that time, the German-owned company was looking to develop a market presence in lighting and film laboratory equipment to complement its highly successful sales of movie cameras. Ross, then marketing director of Rank Strand, was targeted for the job and he was quick to take up the challenge of competing with his old employer for a leading position in the market. He took his PA, Barbara Gould, with him and colleague Paul Wild was appointed lighting sales director.
Under Ross’s leadership, turnover grew from £1m in the first year to its current £30m. ARRI GB now has two successful subsidiaries, a worldwide network of over 40 distributors with operations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and China, and over 150 employees at its UK head office. The company is about to relocate again to accommodate further expansion. Ross now lives on the Isle of Wight where he indulges in his hobbies of cricket, computers and family history. Although he has not been actively involved in the day-to-day management of ARRI GB for the past two years, his business methods and practices remain at the core of the company’s philosophy.
