LED BY INDUSTRY

Alan Johnson, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK

Alan Johnson is Vice President of Manufacturing for Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK). Based at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK, he is responsible for all manufacturing aspects of the plant. On a day-to-day basis he oversees the plant’s entire operation, from strategic planning, to liaising with global functions, and coordinating with supply chains and design teams on all elements of Nissan’s vehicles. Alan joined Nissan’s Sunderland plant in 1991 as a Graduate Engineer – Trim and Chassis. He was then promoted to Trim and Chassis Engineering Manager where he helped launch the next generation Micra and Almera. He then worked in numerous roles for Nissan around the world including Spain, Russia and France and then assumed his current role in May 2020.

Prof. Matt Boyle OBE, PEMD Innovations and NEAA Chairman

Professor Matt Boyle OBE, is the Director of PEMD Innovations and was appointed Professor of Practice in Engineering at Newcastle University in 2021. As a professor of practice, he provides the leadership required of the University in its national role as lead for the Driving the Electric Revolution Innovation Centre (DER-IC) project. He is the executive chair of the Driving the Electric Revolution Innovation Centre (DER-IC) project, of which Newcastle University is the lead partner, overseeing four cutting-edge DER innovation centres.

Paul Butler, North East Automotive Alliance

Paul Butler, an experienced cluster practitioner, joined the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) as Chief Executive Officer in March 2015. Paul is also the only UK based Cluster Benchmarking Expert for the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA), who are mandated by the EU to support the creation of more world-class clusters across the EU. Using his experience and knowledge of clusters Paul has overseen the development of the NEAA, quickly establishing it as the largest automotive cluster in the UK and as the exemplar automotive cluster. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Durham.

Martin Kendall, Vantec Europe Limited 

Martin Kendall is Managing Director of Vantec Europe Limited. Based in Sunderland Martin is responsible for the Vantec Operations at Nissan Motor Manufacturing, Komatsu UK, Thorn Lighting, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (R-RMC) and AESC Envision, as well as being the Global Safety and GK Leader Vantec Overseas Operations. Martin started his career at Nissan when the plant opened in 1986 working in Material Handling before moving into Material Handling Engineering. Martin joined Vantec in 2002 and became Managing Director in 2011 and during this time has overseen the design and construction of two logistics centres in Sunderland, the Innovation Centre, the launch of business with R-RMC, as well as launching Vantec business in Russia, Mississippi, and Chennai.

Phil Wood, Marelli UK

Phil Wood is the VP and Regional Leader of Interior Experience & Director of Marelli Automotive Systems UK Ltd. Phil has spent his entire professional career working in a variety of Technical and Commercial roles within some of the major North East Tier 1 to Nissan supply base including Yazaki and Sumitomo Wiring Systems. He has a BEng (Hons) in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology.

Paul Blanchard, Komatsu UK Limited

Paul Blanchard is Managing Director of Komatsu UK Ltd producing 17 to 70 tonne excavators mainly for the European market. Based in Birtley, Paul is responsible for all aspects on the manufacturing site in the UK, leading the senior management team on site to achieve and exceed their goals and objectives. The UK site are not responsible for the marketing of the product, this is based in Belgium at the European Headquarters, but Paul is still significantly involved in meeting customers both at Komatsu UK and off site to ensure Komatsu clearly understands the customers’ requirements.

Paul joined Komatsu UK in 1989 as a Graduate Engineer and has progressed through the organisation covering roles in Production Engineering, Quality, Test Centre, Manufacturing, and Service both inhouse and out in the field, before his appointment as Managing Director in 2019.

Stephen Irish, SMART ORIGIN