Jonah Bailey appointed Managing Partner at Atomic Object Ann Arbor

October 4, 2016 Ann Arbor, Mich.- Atomic Object has appointed Jonah Bailey as the software design and development consultancy’s new Managing Partner in Ann Arbor.

Bailey will join John Fisher on the office’s management and leadership team, which conducts sales, manages staff and client relationships, and develops new business.

Until now, Atomic Object has filled this role in its Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids offices with former software developers. Atomic CEO Carl Erickson says the move to promote the first software designer into the position is a natural result from having brought design into the company eight years ago.

“Design is the tail that should wag the dog in software development,” said Erickson. “Design might not be more than 20 percent of a project’s budget, but determining the right thing to build, then building it right, prevents waste and increases our clients’ success.”

Bailey spent the last decade managing complex software and web design projects that span industries and continents. Since joining Atomic in 2015, he’s tackled software projects as Atomic’s design lead for clients like Deluxe Rewards, VCE, and Drug Free Sport.

Bailey says he’s looking forward to furthering Atomic’s brand in southeast Michigan.

“It’s a daunting challenge to step into a leadership role at an organization filled with smart, passionate people,” he said. “At the same time, I feel incredibly positive about our future in Ann Arbor and in the wider Metro Detroit area.”

Erickson says Bailey is the right fit for the challenging job.

“Serving as Managing Partner means being ultimately responsible for the quality of the work we do in the office,” he said. “Jonah’s the sort of person people will feel enthusiastic about working with and will trust.”

Bailey is taking over the Managing Partner role from Darrell Hawley, who served on the Ann Arbor office’s first management and leadership team after Atomic acquired SRT Solutions in 2013. Erickson says the company’s 12-person Ann Arbor office is ready to grow.

“Atomic Object is on a great trajectory to becoming an important part of Ann Arbor’s ecosystem,” he said. “We could see being an office of 20 people in a few years’ time.”