GTMA appoints new president and board members

"I am pleased to have the support of a board that has a wealth of experience, history and heritage, but with a clear plan for the future," he said, in accepting the position. Mr Highley was previously general manager at McLaren Racing for nine years, and before that he worked in various divisions of BAe (now BAE Systems). "Although I did run a toolroom at BAe, I have not worked as a toolmaker, or even within an SME. I am told this gives me the ability to ask the questions that many others don't think of, as well as the knack to quickly cut to the crux of an issue." He is passionate about the association's supply chain initiative, the Manufacturing Resource Centre (MRC), and looks forward to its ongoing development. "The MRC considers every step of the supply chain as a value adding opportunity. This is a route to a more engaged interface between the customer and GTMA members supplying specialist support services and expertise. Initiatives such as this, the recently introduced interactive website and the commercialisation of the EU technology project Incremental Sheetmetal Forming (ISF), will all help the association retain its members and attract new ones," Mr Highley believes. "My goal is for us all – every part of the manufacturing industry – to get better at what we do." GTMA also welcomed two new board members, Bob Tunks, of BK Tooling, and Jon Rackley, from the University of Wolverhampton.