New managing director at Ford Aerospace and Ford Component Manufacturing continues family tradition

The joint youngest in the company's 103 year history, Chris Ford (pictured), 28, says he will maintain its long tradition for excellence on the world stage, while adding his own unique and progressive touch. Son of chairman Geoff Ford MBE and great-grandson of founder Robert Ford, Chris progresses from his current role as finance director. He will oversee two companies that, between them, employ more than 160 people across three North East sites and export across the globe. This year the two broke through the £11 million of sales for the first time. Greater flexibility of roles and improved team working are two of the new managing director's initiatives to ensure recent gains in domestic and overseas aerospace, defence and related high technology markets are maintained and strengthened. "I'm delighted to be appointed managing director of this proud and extremely well respected company," said Chris Ford. "Over the past year, I've become involved in all areas of its work and operations, and this feels like a very natural progression, one that is right for me and for both companies. "Ford is doing very well at home and abroad, so what we do won't change but, how we do it will, to a degree. "I believe we can progress even further by slightly modifying the way our staff work together and that more flexibility and team working is the way forward to maximise the full potential of the company as well as each and every one of our employees." In the last financial year, around £9 million was made for the UK, with £2 million drawn from exports, which was a jump from £1.45 in the previous year, when turnover was £10.1 million. The company is targeting £15 million of sales within three years. Chris Ford continued: "I am extremely proud to be carrying on the family tradition, and I know my father is, too. There are exciting challenges ahead and the future is extremely bright." Chris became group finance director at Ford in January. His appointment saw the company consolidate its financial operations into one team, as he moved with four staff to Ford Aerospace's base at Tyne Dock, South Shields, from Ford Component Manufacturing's site at Monkton Business Park North in Hebburn. Just two months later, in March, it surpassed the £11 million annual sales milestone. Chris was previously a finance team leader with Ford Aerospace, during which time he passed a two-and-half-year senior management accountancy qualification with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Two-and-a-half years ago, Chris, who lives in Newcastle, became finance and IT manager at Ford Component Manufacturing. He is currently mid-way through a two-year, part-time Masters Degree in business administration (MBA) at Durham University. Robert Ford was 29 when he founded the firm in 1910. His son, also Robert, was 28 when he became managing director in 1944. Geoff Ford was 31 when he attained the title in 1975. There have since been two non-family managing directors. Geoff Ford said: "It's very good to have a member of the fourth generation as managing director. Chris is very well qualified for his new role. "He has learned from our previous managing director and myself and has picked up lots of experience along the way. It has become evident in recent months that Chris has the full support of our very strong management team. Ford is in very safe hands."