From Boiler Suit to Boardroom: Craig Joynes Celebrates 30 Years at MMD Group

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your current role at MMD Group?

In my role as Group Commercial Director at MMD, I oversee the commercial side of our global supply chain, including manufacturing, pricing, cost management, and international logistics. My focus is on bringing commercial strategy and operational execution together, ensuring we meet today's business needs while supporting our long-term goals.

A key part of the role is understanding the factors that influence cost from raw materials, labour, and energy to logistics and regional manufacturing capabilities. I work closely with our manufacturing sites around the world to develop pricing that is commercially sound while maintaining consistent quality, reliable supply, and strong long-term partnerships.

For me, pricing is about much more than numbers. It reflects manufacturing capability, supply resilience, quality standards, market conditions, and the long-term sustainability of the business. The decisions we make shape not only commercial performance but also customer experience and operational efficiency and support our employees globally.

Ultimately, my role is about finding the right balance between commercial opportunity and operational capability. By working closely across manufacturing, logistics, and sales, I help ensure our decisions are practical, sustainable, and support the continued success of MMD.

What did you study, and how did your education lead you to MMD?

I began my career through an engineering apprenticeship at MMD UK, I studied while gaining hands on experience in the workshop. The apprenticeship gave me a strong foundation in engineering, manufacturing processes, and the practical realities of how products are designed, built, and delivered.

At the time, I never imagined that my career would lead into a commercial leadership role. My focus was on developing technical skills, learning from experienced colleagues, and understanding the business from the ground up.

What shaped my career at MMD was the company's commitment to developing its people. Throughout my journey, I was given opportunities to take on new challenges and broaden my experience beyond engineering. MMD has a culture of recognising potential, encouraging continuous learning, and supporting people as they grow. Those opportunities allowed me to build on my technical background, develop commercial and strategic knowledge, and ultimately progress into my current role as Group Commercial Director.

When did you first join MMD, and what attracted you to the company at the time?

It was raining!

If I’m honest, I’d never heard of MMD at the time. I was 16 years old and walking around the local industrial estate looking for summer work with a group of friends. I certainly wasn’t expecting to find the company that would change my life.

Trying to escape a typical British downpour, I ran through the gates into the factory at MMD UK and was directed towards the reception. Soaked through and slightly nervous, I asked Debra (Debs), on reception, if there were any jobs available for someone my age. She kindly called Geoff Knowles the QA Manager, who came out to speak with me. Geoff explained that for the first time in 16 years, MMD was considering taking on an engineering apprentice. He suggested that if I was genuinely interested, I should write a letter to Steve Pace and formally apply.

So, I went home, wrote the letter, and sent it off. To my surprise, I was invited for an interview. Steve took the time to explain what the apprenticeship involved, what working at MMD would be like, and what would be expected of me. I’d studied metalwork at school so some of the terminology was familiar. It was an honest conversation that, looking back, perfectly reflected the company's culture, firm but fair.

After the interview, I caught the bus home, unsure how it had gone. When I walked through the front door, my mum greeted me with: "Congratulations!" Steve had already phoned to say I'd got the job and asked for my shoe size, so they could order my safety boots ready for my first day.

I officially joined MMD on 22 July 1996, and what started as an attempt to get out of the rain became the beginning of a career spanning three decades. Looking back, what attracted me wasn't a well-researched career plan, it was the opportunity that someone was willing to give a young person with enthusiasm but little experience. That belief in people is something I've continued to see throughout my time at MMD, and it's one of the reasons I've stayed ever since.

Can you talk us through your career journey at MMD and how your role has evolved over the years?

I started as the apprentice in the workshop, and from day one I instantly felt at home. The workshop wasn’t just a factory; it was a place to learn technical skills. It was an environment built on shared experience, standards, and pride in doing things properly. My mentor, Mick Matkin, had a training methodology that was both simple and incredibly effective. His approach was straightforward: “The more you can do, the less I have to, so you’re going to do everything!” And that’s exactly how he trained me. I was hands-on from the very beginning, learning by doing, making mistakes, fixing them, and building confidence through responsibility rather than observation. That learning wasn’t limited to one person. With the input of more than 30 engineers all threating me like fathers, uncles and brothers throughout the workshop, everyone wanted to teach me something whether it was a process, a shortcut, a lesson learned the hard way, or simply how to do the job better. There was a genuine desire to pass on knowledge, and being surrounded by that level of experience shaped not just my technical ability, but my work ethic and mindset.

Later, a position became vacant in the office, and I felt ready for a new challenge. Once again, MMD believed in me, provided the necessary training, and gave me the chance to step forward. I was able to transfer the practical knowledge I’d gained in the workshop into the new role. Understanding products, processes, costs, and constraints from the inside out proved invaluable.

When MMD later opened an office on the Isle of Man 2006, I already had a strong working relationship with James Sinclair, who was the Commercial Director at the time. James had taken me under his wing early in my career and had been one of my biggest supporters. He challenged me, guided me, and trusted me, so when he asked if I would consider moving to the island to become Commercial Manager, I didn’t hesitate. Later when James retired, the responsibility increased significantly. Alan Potts had exceptionally high expectations, however those expectations forced growth, accountability, and resilience. Looking back, each transition came with uncertainty, pressure, and responsibility but also with opportunity. At every stage, MMD placed trust in me, and in return, I worked to justify that trust.

Looking back over the past 30 years, what has been your most memorable moment or proudest achievement at MMD?

The people, the places, and the stories are what truly define MMD. Its greatest strength has always been its people. Speak to anyone who has been with the company for a long time, and they will inevitably have a story to tell, often a funny one, but almost always about a time when MMD people pulled together to overcome challenges and deliver a project against the odds. This culture is something I experienced first-hand. Working with Alan and Ann instilled values in me that have stayed with me ever since. From Alan's unmistakable way of motivating people to Ann's genuinely caring, supportive, and warm nature, they created an environment where you didn't feel like just another employee. You felt like you were part of something far bigger, “a family”.

My proudest achievement is proving to myself, my family, and, of course, my MMD family that they were right to support me. I listened, I learned, and I grew, and I could not have done it without them. They cared enough to challenge me when I needed it, to tell me when I was wrong, and to take the time to teach me the right way. They never gave up on me, no matter how late the hours or how stressful the situation became.

That level of commitment, patience, and belief is something I carry with me every day. I hope I am passing on those same values to others - supporting people, challenging them to be better, and reminding them that they are part of something that truly matters.