MDL Marinas has appointed Daniel Chown as financial director and Sophie Kirkpatrick as head of sales and marketing as it enters a new investment phase across its marina network for the 2026-2027 financial year.
Chown joined the business in late 2025 and brings 19 years of experience in senior finance roles. He now leads financial strategy, forecasting and governance as MDL continues its investment programme.
Kirkpatrick joins with a background in leisure, tourism and hospitality. She will be responsible for sales and marketing activities across the company’s marinas and related operations, including customer acquisition, revenue growth and product development.
The appointments come at the start of a new financial year, alongside a multi-million-pound investment programme. The first phase is set to begin at five marinas and includes new waterfront restaurants, upgrades to berth holder facilities, and improvements to buildings and parking areas.
Further plans include dedicated berthing for narrowboats and jet skis, as well as continued pontoon renewal across the wider network. The company is also expanding its Meter MACS system to improve electricity access for berth holders.
James Barnes, managing director of MDL Marinas, said: “We are delighted to welcome Daniel and Sophie to the business at such an important time for MDL. As we invest significantly across our marina network, it is vital that we have strong financial leadership and clear commercial direction. These appointments ensure we are well positioned to deliver our growth strategy while continuing to provide outstanding facilities and experiences for our customers.”
MDL Marinas was established in 1973 and operates 19 marinas and boatyards, including 18 in the UK and one in Spain, with more than 7,000 berths under management.
