Pearson Matthews and Sadler disclose merger plans

Product design groups Pearson Matthews and Sadler Associates are to merge on 1 October, it was announced this week, and will form the Pearson Matthews Group.

Sadler Associates will trade as the general and scientific division, with Pearson Matthews continuing to focus on its medical specialism. Sadler Associates director Ken Sadler will join Pearson Matthews directors Mike Pearson and Jim Dawton as a group-level board director.

The move comes in response to challenging conditions within the product design and medical products sector, says Dawton.

‘It’s been a tough few years in the sector. We looked at a number of options for growth, but decided it wasn’t right for the Pearson Matthews brand to diversify. This merger allows us to explore opportunities outside the medical sector and gives Sadler Associates access to greater resources.’

Dawton says the group is ‘not ruling out a name change’ in the future, but in the short term both companies will retain their business names and premises. ‘A name change is not on the cards at the moment,’ he says. ‘We might put both companies under one roof, but it’s not an immediate plan.’

Staff numbers are unlikely to be affected, he adds. ‘There won’t be any job losses,’ he says. Pearson Matthews currently employs 15 designers, and there are five at Sadler Associates.