The Team

Jonny Boys

Managing Director

Jonny has been in the RIB business since the late 90s, when he started JBT Marine, a specialist RIB business. In 2002, he got involved with designing, building and selling new Ballistic RIBs. He liked it so much he took over the company! Married, with three lovely daughters, he loves to sail, kite surf and ski, as well as powerboating.

Jonny’s claim to fame is he got to the final in Channel 4’s Scrap Heap Challenge. He subsequently took part in C4’s Scrappy Races and entered the International Strange Vehicle Games in China.

Tom Sanderson

Sales Director

Tom started boating as a baby on the Norfolk Broads. After doing work experience with powerboats he completed a Marine Business degree at Plymouth University. Tom has been part of the Ballistic RIBs team since 2011. He loves any excuse to get on the water, whether it’s with his young family, wakeboarding on a calm day, or kite surfing in the big breeze.

Heather Shepherd

Office Manager & PA to Sales Director

Heather lives on a yacht with her husband Lance, an offshore race skipper. Before moving to the south coast and joining Ballistic in 2017, Heather worked as a PA and Ops manager running a CCTV and control centre for 15 years. She’s also a qualified Librarian, holds a Masters in Management Learning and Leadership and has three grown up children.

Gareth Protheroe

RIB sales executive

With twenty years of experience under his belt in the marine and leisure industries, Gareth has been with us since July 2015. He has been married for 10 years and has a son and a daughter, currently of junior school age. Always keen to try new things, Gareth rides an electric unicycle to work, and around the site at Trafalgar Wharf.

Sophie Bisset

Office Administration / Training School Coordinator

Sophie studied Watersports Management at Solent City University. Since finishing in 2004 she has been hooked on and in the industry ever since. She has been part of the Ballistic RIBS team since 2015. Sophie has a little girl, and owns a Classic T25 1986 red campervan called Leon.

Brian Cuthbertson

Ballistic Boats SA

Brian has 30 years experience in the marine industry. He qualified as an inboard/outboard mechanic and worked on Yamaha motors for 10 year. Brian raced inflatable powerboats achieving national colours in this twice, before joining the Ballistic team in SA. Here he heads up the manufacturing and production facility. (And says that since then has had no life outside the factory!) LOL