New Chief Executive for National Composites Centre

Rich Oldfield

Press release issued: 1 May 2018

The University of Bristol announced today [Tuesday 1 May] the appointment of Rich Oldfield as the new Chief Executive of the National Composites Centre (NCC).

Owned by the University, the NCC is world-leading in composites research and development and the foremost centre for composites in the UK High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Rich, who is currently Senior Vice President (SVP) for Business Development and Strategy at GKN, will succeed Peter Chivers from 1 September 2018, and brings a wealth of engineering, technology and leadership experience to the position.

Rich joined GKN Aerospace in July 2009 as Technical Director and in 2010 became SVP for Engineering and Technology. He assumed the role of SVP Advanced Metallic Technologies in December 2014, before taking on his current role as SVP for Business Development and Strategy in March 2017.

He came to GKN from Airbus where he was part of the Airbus Strategy and Future Programmes organisation. He joined Airbus as an undergraduate apprentice in 1993 and subsequently he spent six years in various leadership roles on the design and manufacture of the A380 wings. He was then appointed Deputy Head of Engineering in the Wing Centre of Excellence, responsible for technical integration topics across all Airbus programmes before joining the Strategy and Future Programmes organisation. Rich holds a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering.

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Bristol, commenting on the appointment, said: "I am delighted that Rich has been appointed as the NCC’s new Chief Executive. Rich has an excellent reputation for his technical leadership and management experience and is ideally suited to this role. As well as world-class research and technology development, the NCC is helping to train the next generation of engineers in composites manufacturing and technologies. I am looking forward to working closely with Rich to build on Peter's excellent work as the NCC continues to establish itself in the growing and exciting worldwide composites industry."

Rich Oldfield added: "This is an exciting time to be joining the NCC and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. Composites are crucial to Britain’s aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, construction, and rail industries and the NCC is leading the way on their development. With colleagues and UK industry, my aim is to ensure the NCC builds on its position in the global composites industry and continues to be a world-leader in this field."

Further information

A composite material is composed of at least two materials, which combine to give properties superior to those of the individual constituents. The most frequently used composites materials are reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, usually with carbon, glass, aramid, polymer or natural fibres embedded in a polymer matrix. Other matrix materials can be used and composites may also contain fillers or nano-materials such as graphene.

About the National Composites Centre (NCC)
The National Composites Centre (NCC) supports UK industry to rapidly deploy innovative and cost-effective composites solutions, working with academics, engineers and training providers in industrial-scale Research, Technology and Manufacturing facilities.

The NCC is a £50 million investment supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (£12 million); the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) (£4 million); and £9 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It is owned and hosted by the University of Bristol. The NCC is a partner of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.