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David Manton’s family describe him as “a wonderful man, loving husband and proud and dedicated father.” His industry colleagues and friends, garnered over a long and successful career, remember him with respect and affection: “We all will miss him deeply as he was a great friend and leader.”
David’s most recent career saw him successfully executing his role as General Manager of Sydney-headquartered company Silent Gliss, a role he had occupied since August 2014, contributing to the Australian legacy of the Switzerland based leading global supplier of motorised and manual curtain and blind systems to the high end market.
Prior to his recent role at Silent Gliss, he had gained crucial experience outside the window furnishings industry, as General Manager of Screen Technics for almost six years, where he had senior management responsibility for the Screen Technics Group of Companies: Screen Technic Pty Limited, Screen Technics (NZ) Limited and Redleaf Audiovisual
Equipment Pty Ltd. In that role, he oversaw an Australian manufacturing facility specialising in the production and wholesale distribution of audiovisual equipment throughout the commercial, domestic, governmental and educational sectors. He was also across the company’s operations as an import distributor of international brands from Europe, China and the US.
David’s career also included a stint as State Account Manager for Designed Blinds (NSW) in a wholesale business development role, with responsibility for NSW within the commercial and domestic window furnishings industry. This entailed key account management, running product training seminars, and the creation of growth opportunities within the market space.
David’s recent role at Silent Gliss was in fact a reprise of sorts; he had also spent a portion of his early career with the company, as Architectural / Technical
Representative from 1995 to 2000, during which time he had specific responsibility to service the architectural specifier and commercial design & build sectors.
Reflecting on his later contribution to the company, the Australian arm of Silent Gliss had in fact been encountering challenges for some time when David took the helm, and his leadership was integral to a marked improvement in the company’s fortunes until he became unwell late last year. He was diagnosed with Gliosarcoma, a rare form of brain cancer, in September 2018. After surgery and treatment he caught pneumonia and was hospitalised for six weeks. He never regained his strength and his diagnosis became terminal.
David was happily married to Donna Manton and had two sons, Aaron, 18, and Joel, 16. He passed away on 25 February 2019, with his wife and boys by his side.
