DIRECTOR PROFILES

Rob Horton, Managing Director

Rob Horton, Operations Director - Sorion Electronics

Rob joined Sorion in 2014 as Operations Manager, moving to Operations Director in 2016. After taking on many of the financial responsibilities in 2021, he became MD in 2024.

Rob has a wealth of operational and customer facing experience having held key positions in a technical and computing book company, including Sales Manager and Logistics Manager before joining Sorion.

Rob is results driven and is instrumental in ensuring that Sorion is always in a position to meet growing demand whilst continually improving upon the on-time delivery of well designed and manufactured products. Rob constantly strives for operational excellence through ensuring Sorion has efficient work practices and well-trained, motivated and customer-focused staff.

Since joining the board Rob has provided exceptional results for Sorion, including driving key initiatives in developing a culture of continuous improvement and improving operational workflows.

Rob is married with two grown up children.  He is a member of his local running club and a lover of the great outdoors.

Rob Green, Engineering Director

Rob Joined Sorion in 2021 as Engineering Manager and was invited to join the board as Engineering Director in July 2022, offering his strengths and skills in support of the other members.

An accomplished and proven leader, Rob initially worked in IT and Networking from the mid 90’s until the turn of the millennium, helping to introduce some of the UK’s first ever Wi-Fi systems. He then spent most of the next two decades
travelling the world developing automated robotic solutions, primarily to the automotive industry, but also in Oil & Gas, Logistics, Food & Beverage and Medical.

With a proven track record of being a critical component of process and systems improvement, identifying and developing effective solutions he also found the time to start and pass on a number of small businesses including shark tank diving in an aquarium, a diving and first aid training centre and producing a small plant providing clean affordable drinking water to rural communities in Thailand.

Since 2018 however he has returned to the UK with his wife Sandy and two daughters and is pleased
to be a part of Sorion’s long term future and success.

Nick Hartt, Systems Director

Since he joined Sorion in 2003, Nick has been instrumental in assisting with the growth of Sorion Electronics and developing their market leading products and systems. He has a belief in creating flexible end user solutions from common modular elements, reducing risks and uncertainties, and had a significant input in to Sorion’s more recent AMR software developments.

From his childhood on the Kent coast, Nick developed a passion for computing with his ZX Spectrum which led him to take a Computing ‘A’ Level and later a degree in Computer & Control Systems from Coventry University. After graduating, Nick joined Cirrus Technologies as a software engineer where he worked for 15 years to director level before leaving to join Sorion Electronics.

The opportunity to start developing a new suite of software from scratch was a driving force in motivating Nick to join Sorion Electronics. Nick’s first objective was to design and develop a guided assembly and traceability system that was cost effective and easy to access and use for their customers.

Today, Nick has over 30 years’ worth of experience in designing and implementing corporate and automotive systems, from embedded through to site wide logistics and production database systems. He is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, as well as the US Society of Automotive Engineers and keeps a keen eye on the latest automotive technologies and trends.

Nick was MD for 2 years, but returned to his Systems role in 2024 to continue his IT, QA and technical role within Sorion Electronics.

After many years in Birmingham, Nick now lives on the outskirts of Wolverhampton, enjoying all things 3D print and gadget wise as well as the surrounding countryside.

Steve Hayes, Commercial Director

Steve Hayes, Commercial Director - Sorion Electronics

Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Steve joined Sorion Electronics as Commercial Director in March 2003. As Commercial Director Steve is responsible for sales, marketing and product design.

From a young age, Steve had an interest in engineering and electronics where he would build motorised go karts and amplifiers for his electric guitars. Later, in his teenage years, Steve developed a passion for buying old cars, restoring and modifying them to full working order. 

From an early point in his career, Steve’s ambition was to be owning a successful company by the time he saw his 40th birthday. It was 2003 when Steve achieved his ambition at the age of 44, which although four years later than his initial goal, it was still a respectable achievement. 

Previous to joining Sorion Electronics, Steve worked at Cirrus Technologies where he had joined as a recently qualified mechanical engineer in 1982. During his time at Cirrus, Steve was able to gain valuable experience in the field of electronics engineering and, although already having gained an HND in mechanical engineering, Steve enrolled in night school and achieved a second HND with Distinction in industrial electronics engineering. He progressed from a mechanical engineer to technical director and finally as sales director. It was whilst he was at Cirrus that Steve met Nick Hartt who would go on to become a fellow director at Sorion Electronics. 

During his time as commercial director at Sorion Electronics, Steve believes the toughest time was during the recession between 2007 and 2011 where all of the directors had to make difficult decisions and that the long-term objectives of the company were not compromised. 

Sorion Electronics has continued to grow, expand and invest in its future and Steve is focusing on increasing the company’s customer base, turnover and profits. 

Steve is married, has four grown up children and teenage grandchildren, and can usually be spotted on a canal either walking his dogs or steering his narrow boat.