LED BY INDUSTRY

The NEAA is led by a strong Executive and Advisory Board, who represent the diverse nature of the automotive industry.

Martin Kendall, Chairman, NEAA

Martin Kendall is Managing Director of LOGISTEED UK Limited (formerly Vantec Europe Limited).

Based in Sunderland, Martin is responsible for the LOGISTEED UK operations at Nissan Motor Manufacturing, Komatsu UK, Thorn Lighting, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (R-RMC), Bentley Motors, BMW Swindon and Oxford transport, AESC Envision and GE Vernova.

Martin is a member of the LOGISTEED Global International Leadership Team and is co-chair of the LOGISTEED Global Automotive team.

Martin was also recognised for his outstanding contribution to the automotive sector at the 2024 NEAA Awards and has been a longstanding member of the NEAA Board.

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.

Martin took up the post as NEAA Chair in May 2026, taking over from Professor Matt Boyle OBE FREng, who has served as chair since 2010.

Executive Directors

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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.

Paul Butler, Chief Executive Officer of the North East Automotive Alliance Picture: DAVID WOOD

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, Managing Director of Logisteed UK Limited Picture: DAVID WOOD

Martin Kendall, LOGISTEED UK Limited

Martin Kendall is Managing Director of LOGISTEED UK Limited (formerly Vantec Europe Limited).

Phil Wood

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.

KUK Stuart Reid

Stuart Reid, Komatsu UK Limited

Stuart brings a wealth of experience and leadership from one of the region’s most respected manufacturing businesses. Having recently stepped into the role of Managing Director at Komatsu UK, following a successful tenure as Finance Director, Stuart has been a key part of Komatsu for over 30 years, working at the Birtley plant and contributing to its continued success.

Stephen Irish 2

Stephen Irish, SMART ORIGIN

Stephen Irish is an engineer turned entrepreneur with a passion for technology and delivering great projects. He is the co-founder of Hyperdrive Innovation, a low carbon vehicle technology company, and during this time he oversaw overall management responsibility as well as lead the business development activities. Stephen is now the Director of start-up company, SMART ORIGIN, supporting businesses and other organisations to help them with strategy, growth, technology and funding. He is a Chartered Engineer with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Warwick University.

Advisory Board

  • Adam Pennick, NMUK
  • Catherine Auld, Sunderland City Council 
  • Chris Brown, MI-King
  • Chris Caygill, AESC UK
  • Daniel Fowlds, ElringKlinger GB 
  • Darren Creasy, Adient
  • David Brander, SNOP 
  • Gary Yeaman, Komatsu UK Limited
  • Jim Casey, Nifco UK 
  • Jonathan Phillips, Gestamp Tallent  
  • Kevin Christie, Minth Group
  • Lee Carlton, Magna
  • Mark Cox, Turntide
  • Rob Potts, Unipres (UK)
  • Ryan Maughan, eTech49 Limited
  • Steve Hopper, ZF 
  • Tony Adams, Unipres (UK)
  • Wayne Reynoldson, Lear Corporation

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Members will immediately benefit from the promotion of the North East automotive sector’s capabilities on regional, national and international levels and the network’s ability to connect the supply chain to business opportunities.

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