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Chris brings 28 years of aerospace experience spanning aircraft fitting, structural design, tooling and senior operational leadership. He began his career ay BAE Systems as an Apprentice Aircraft Fitter, progressing into the Design Office and Design Liaison at Warton, Lancashire.

After eight years with BAE, Chris built a wide-ranging international career with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers including Boeing, Airbus, Terma, Marand and Assystem. These roles strengthened his practical understanding of how design decisions translate into efficient, high-quality manufacturing and sharpened his reputation as a hands-on engineering problem solver.

Chris joined AFD Systems in September 2021 as Design Manager and was instrumental in establishing and developing the in-house Design Office, enabling the delivery of turnkey packages for major aviation, defence and space programmes. As Operations Director, Chris leads the organisation’s day-to-day performance, ensuring operations align with strategic objectives while driving continuous improvement through technology and innovation.

He is known for calm supportive leadership, with a strong focus on mentoring, developing others and building a positive, high-performing culture.

Chris holds an HND in Mechanical & Production Engineering, is a Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and was part of the team recognised with the SME Employer of the Year award at the B&FC Apprenticeship Awards 2025.