Applications to Stand As Board Member of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance: 2013-2015

Applications to stand as Board member of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance: 2013-2015

Craig Michael Askew VP/GM Power & Hybrid Business Unit TT electronics, Lutterworth, Leicestershire

TT electronics plc is a focused global electronics group supplying leading manufacturers in the transportation, defence, aerospace, medical, energy and industrial markets. The Group has three key divisions: Sensing and Control, Integrated Manufacturing Services and Components, each delivering technology, products and services to customers in target markets worldwide. TT electronics plc operates from headquarters based in Weybridge, Surrey, and in 14 countries with 20 global manufacturing locations and more than 5,300 employees worldwide.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT CAREER HISTORY

Chief Executive and Director ITP Engines UK Ltd, Leicester, Lincoln and Rugby

CONTRIBUTION/PARTICIPATION IN MAA ACTIVITIES

I have been an active supporter of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance since it was founded, having been elected to the Board in 2009, and am looking to continue to bring value to this role again now, having since been appointed as the VP/GM of TT electronics/Power & Hybrid Business Unit. In previous years I encouraged one of our senior engineers to engage as an active member of the MAA Innovation and Technology Working Group, and through this invested expertise and time into the organisation and oversight of the MAA’s two successful Aerospace Technology Exploitation Projects (ATEP I and II) to support Midlands suppliers. I look to continue this involvement in future projects.

HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MAA

Whilst TT electronics is a UK plc, I understand the operating environment of SMEs. Each one of my UK businesses operates like an SME. Semelab and Welwyn Components, long term successful businesses, have a strong SME culture and history. 2013 looks like being another positive turning point for the MAA, well positioned within the new world of the Aerospace Growth Partnership and NATEP. It has been great to be part of this successful journey and to have hopefully contributed in a small way. I am excited about the coming years and how the MAA can continue building its position supporting companies in the Midlands.

1 Mike Beirns General Manager Abbey Metal Finishing Co Ltd (Amfin), Hinckley, Leicestershire

Founded in 1947, Abbey Metal Finishing Ltd has established a professional and accomplished metal finishing company, offering 40 finishing operations on one site including NDT, Etch Inspection, Anodising, Electroplating, Plasma spraying, Paint Spraying and Bonding. The company has built up a substantial finishing process capability to meet the customers’ requirements from a diverse range of aerospace industries. This capability has earned the approval of many of the leading aerospace companies including Rolls-Royce, Airbus and BAE Systems. Following a catastrophic factory fire in 2010 the Amfin initial survival plan focused upon the maintenance of customer support. In under two years, with the purchase of a 65,000sq ft. plant featuring state of the art processing equipment, Amfin is now very much in the process of regaining lost custom and further establishing itself as one of the leading aerospace metal finishing companies in the UK. 95% of Amfin’s business is within the aerospace supply chain. Today Amfin employs 75.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT CAREER HISTORY

o General Manager; Abbey Metal Finishing Company Ltd (Amfin) Aerospace subcontract surface treatments business o Group Sales & Marketing Director: ABLE Group, Aerospace machining business o European Sales & Marketing Manager, ATI, Aerospace MRO business, JV with GE o Aerospace Development Manager, Abrasive Developments Ltd, Capital equipment supplier o General Manager, Impact Finishers ltd, (Part of BTR Plc) Aerospace subcontract surface treatments business o Manufacturing Engineer, Sermatech (UK) Ltd, Aerospace subcontract surface treatments business o Undergraduate Apprentice, Rolls-Royce Plc

CONTRIBUTION/PARTICIPATION IN MAA ACTIVITIES

I have been an active participant of MAA events since 2008 and regularly attend MAA meetings. Over the last three years I have had the pleasure of exhibiting with the MAA at the Paris and Farnborough air shows. Each exhibition produced new business and extended our network. In 2011 I was delighted to have the opportunity to join the MAA Business Development Group, whose meetings contribute to MAA policies to help members and at which I have interacted with many different business groups, both industry and government. Our industry may not be known for its creativity, however the MAA Business Development Group is an excellent vehicle to develop creative opportunities for all MAA companies. The MAA platform, its visibility and promotion of Midlands aerospace is a cause I fully endorse – I urge all members to make the most of membership.

HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MAA

By being an active, passionate, evangelical advocate of the MAA cause, emphasising MAA reach within OEMs, Tier One Companies, Public and Private sectors, to present opportunities for growth and / or solutions. The majority of my 33 years within aerospace has been within the supply chain sector, and over this time I have seen substantial change and improvements. To remain as a credible supplier within our industry many companies have had to demonstrate, as required by AS9100 Rev C, sustainable improvement in OTIF and Quality. I have been through this challenging process and I feel I have some understanding of what our members may need as they endeavour to meet demanding supply chain needs.

If elected to the MAA Board, I am keen to help the MAA in future focus on how companies can work together better in groups or clusters to meet customer needs, get access to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers through organised visits, for example, invest in new technologies for the future, and gain access to the funding that is available.

Dr. Alan Duffield Advanced Machining Accounts Manager Winbro Group Technologies Limited, Coalville, Leicestershire

I am responsible for growing and developing a relatively new part of the Winbro business in subcontract film cooling and turbine blade and vane manufacture using our own Laser, EDM and Viper Grinding technologies.

Winbro Group Technologies Limited business:

• Midlands-founded high technology machine systems business • Three business sectors with 175 employees in 2013 in the UK and USA having grown from 90 in 2009 • Year ending 2012 turnover at £20m • Queens Award Winner 2009 for Innovation and Technology • Expertise in hot section turbine components supplying aero-engine companies in 16 countries on 3 continents • Specialists in forms, features and advanced cooling technologies in gas turbine components. • Aerospace is 70% of the company’s business with customers including Rolls-Royce in the UK and USA, Snecma, MTU, Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation & Unison, KHI, Honeywell, UEC companies in Russia and several Chinese Aero-engine manufacturers. • The company has 163 employees in the Midlands.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT CAREER HISTORY

2009 – 2010 Head of Sales, Magnesium Elektron, Manchester, Light Alloys for Aerospace 2003 – 2009 Sales & Marketing Director - Hampson Industries PLC – Machining Division (now Bromford Industries) 1999 – 2003 Managing Director WB Machining Services (Then part of Hampson, now Bromford Industries) 1999 Product Director Transtec Advanced Machines (Aerospace Machine tools) 1995-1999 Business Manager, Earby Light Engineers, Colne, Lancs, (Aerospace Components) 1988-1995 Project Manager, Amchem Co., Transtec group (Aerospace Machine tools)

CONTRIBUTION/PARTICIPATION IN MAA ACTIVITIES

I am currently a member of the MAA Business Development Group which advises the MAA team: regular attendance and contributions at meetings. I was previously an elected MAA Board member, 2007 to 2009, only standing down when I moved to the North West. Previously Chair of Aerospace Cluster Opportunities Group in the former Advantage West Midlands and sat on a Birmingham City University committee.

HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MAA

I will contribute to the aims and objectives of the Midlands Aerospace Alliance by using my marketing skills and industry presence to lobby for continued development of the MAA to support collaborative ventures between member companies. The overall objective is to maintain and grow the aerospace skills of the English Midlands in an ever globalising market. To this end we must help our local industry find those niche areas and world class methodology to remain competitive against growing low cost alternatives, or to lead those international sources. My previous experience combined with my current activities in an SME with global reach I believe can be of great use to the current MAA board.

Dr. Chris Moore Partner & Senior Patent Attorney Harrison Goddard Foote LLP, Birmingham (www.hgf.com)

As a company we represent many companies from the aerospace sector, including Thales Air Defence Limited, Bombardier Inc. We also represent clients from the supply chain including materials and technology suppliers. I also have a very good working relationship with such companies as Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems. We have between 5 and 10 employees in the Midlands.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT CAREER HISTORY

As well as being a patent attorney, advising many different companies on their intellectual property (IP), I have served as a company director (at my previous employer) and am currently a board member for the Joint Examination Board, which sets the professional examinations for patent and trade mark attorneys.

CONTRIBUTION/PARTICIPATION IN MAA ACTIVITIES

HGF has only recently become a member of the MAA. However, I have attended the MAA Annual Conference at Rolls-Royce, and am having discussions with the MAA team about providing an “ask the expert” functionality for free IP advice for MAA members.

HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MAA

I firmly believe that sharing information and knowledge allows parties to take full advantage of available opportunities. I also believe that such shared information can lead to otherwise unavailable synergies and better outcomes for all. This is all the more so when touching on the complex legal framework surrounding IP. I have a long track record of providing training courses on IP (for UKTI, CompositesUK, Birmingham University to name but three), and would be more than happy to do so for the MAA members. Providing free support in that arena is clearly valuable.

As a patent attorney, I have represented OEMs, Tier 1s and members of the aerospace supply chain, as well as universities. I believe that this overview of the issues faced across the spectrum of members will be valuable to the Board, and the MAA members in general in coordinating and helping to deliver a shared strategy message.

4 Peter J Smith Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Nasmyth Group Ltd, Coventry and Pinxton, Nottinghamshire

The Group has extensive involvement in the aerospace industry addressing global markets with a wide range of products, services, technologies and skills. Capabilities cover the full spectrum of machined components in all types of aerospace materials with lengths and diameters up to around 3 metres. As a leader in surface treatment technology the Group offers a complete range of wet surface treatments, specialised capabilities such as plasma spray, HVOF and cadmium plating and a comprehensive offering in technologies such as heat treatment or plastic coatings. These base technologies come together in the Group’s assembly and system design and build for the aerospace sector. Of $100m of sales in 2012 approximately 70% was for aerospace applications and to customers such as Rolls- Royce, Airbus, Agusta Westland, GKN, Goodrich, Meggitt, GE Aviation, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, HAL and other primes and tier ones in Europe, the USA and Asia. The company’s number of employees in the Midlands is approximately 450.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT CAREER HISTORY

I have held the following relevant roles previous to Nasmyth Group Ltd: • Doncasters Plc - CEO • Ross Catherall Group (former Vickers Engineering businesses principally aerospace) - CEO • Dowty Boulton Paul Ltd - Deputy MD • Hymatic Engineering Ltd (Now Cobham Group) – Deputy MD • MEL Division of Philips – Research Manger

CONTRIBUTION/PARTICIPATION IN MAA ACTIVITIES

Areas of previous contribution to MAA activities by Nasmyth Group include: • Silver sponsor of the first MAA Annual Conference 2013 (I was also a member of the expert panel at the conference). • Commitment of Group resources to MAA activities including Bulwell Managing Director Simon Beech’s long service as an MAA director. • Working closely with the MAA team to support its international exhibition strategy and implementation, for example at the Singapore Airshow 2012.

HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MAA

I see the following as key areas of contribution but am willing to commit and assist in any and all areas:

• MAA strategy to support the Midlands aerospace supply chain • Senior level interface with other aerospace organisations on behalf of the MAA • Informal or more formal lobbying / government and public body interfaces • Marketing, publications and exhibition planning • Good business practice and governance within MAA • Financial and accounts • Contribution to organisation of seminars, lectures etc • Representation of members views