Open House – David Boddy

August 5, 2024

We get to know David Boddy, Product Manager, Abode

How did you end up working in this industry? I’ve always been fascinated by design and so I studied industrial design followed by a CIM in management, leading to my first job as Assistant Product Manager for Sanyo.

What do you like most and least about your job? I absolutely love my role at Abode because I’m doing what I do best – product management with some other fun elements thrown in to keep me on my toes. I particularly enjoy the freedom we have at Abode to challenge current industry thinking and bring new ideas to life in our design lab.

What has been your favourite bathroom trend yet?

I’m working on it at the moment! I am really excited about the potential in the basin market, and I think there is huge scope to really bring vanities into the 21st century as too often they are second to the bath or shower.

What do you think has been the greatest innovation in bathrooms?

For me, I love the range of new materials available for us to work with now so that we can deliver state-of-the-art easy clean solutions to the end user.

Who do you most admire and why?

There are a couple of self-made entrepreneurs located in the north-east of England that come to mind with one being John Elliott (MBE), who is a former employer of mine with one of the sharpest minds I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. Sherpa Tenzing gets my appreciation too having almost 20 years helping various western based explorers trying to conquer Everest before finally achieving success with Edmund Hilary in 1953. To be one of the first two people to achieve what seemed impossible for many years, seriously takes some topping! In fact, it is great to see that his name sits on a level playing field with Hilary in the history books. I also admire Steve Gibson, the current Chairman of Middlesborough Football Club. Not only is he a highly successful businessman, but he is also arguably the best Chairman in English football!

What is your favourite way to unwind? Getting outside is a great way for me to clear my head and unwind, especially when I take the dog with me for a run or leisurely stroll along the river.

Who would you most like to meet, dead or alive? I think it would be pretty cool to meet Bob Marley as I really like his music, but I’d settle for Beyonce if he was too busy.

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