24 Jun 25
24 Jun 25
We’re proud to share some truly exciting news from the Harwin family. Our president, Damon de Laszlo, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours list—a prestigious recognition for his lifelong contributions to manufacturing, science, and charitable work.
For those who know Damon, this honour comes as no surprise. The de Laszlo family founded Harwin in 1952 and Damon has been instrumental in running and growing the company since the 1980s.
As well as his current position as president of Harwin plc, Damon sits on the boards of many companies in Europe and the United States and is the Chairman of the Economic Research Council (ERC), a UK-based organization dedicated to discussing and debating economic issues.
Damon is also a trustee of the de Laszlo Foundation, a charitable trust that, since 1987, has focused on advancing and promoting education and research in art, science, medicine and economics.
On hearing he had been awarded the CBE, Damon commented:
“It is a fantastic surprise to be honoured in such a way for things that one has always enjoyed doing, not least as it is rare for such awards to be given to industrialists. Clearly Harwin’s growth was one of the factors behind the decision so I would like to recognize that the company’s success has been a true team effort, achieved in no small part by growing and nurturing employees through our commitment to internal development.”
- Damon de Laszlo
That commitment to investing in people—especially through apprenticeship and skills development—is a key part of Damon’s vision and Harwin’s culture.
Andrew McQuilken, who became Harwin’s CEO last month at the same time as Damon became president, adds:
“Having been with Harwin since 1999 I have seen first-hand the significant contribution that Damon has made to this company, the industry as a whole and the charities in which he plays an active role. His passion and energy are an inspiration and his focus on growing businesses from within through active apprenticeship programs has been fundamental to Harwin’s ongoing success.”
- Andrew McQuilken
Everyone at Harwin is honoured to celebrate this moment and continue building on the strong foundation Damon has helped to create.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew McQuilken as CEO of Harwin, following recent changes to our senior leadership team. His leadership marks an important step in the company’s continued growth and strategic direction.
Harwin has begun construction on a £30 million, multi-story manufacturing facility in Portsmouth, set for completion in 2026, which will double production capacity while integrating sustainable design, renewable energy, and eco-friendly commuting initiatives to reduce environmental impact.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Churchill as our new Operations Director.