Christopher Appleby Email & Phone Number

Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom

The North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA) is the UK's leading automotive cluster, dedicated to driving innovation and growth within the automotive sector. As the Innovation Manager at NEAA, I have played a pivotal role in spearheading the organisation's innovation work stream and delivering several high-profile projects. One of my most significant achievements has been successfully securing and currently managing the £8.2 million V-CAL project, a large-scale consortium addressing connected and automated logistics challenges. I also oversaw the previous 5GCAL project focused on 5G technologies for logistics, which paved the way for the follow-on V-CAL initiative. Additionally, I have also managed or been part of the delivery team that has successfully delivered various funded innovation programs such as the NGAMA project, Supply Chain North East (ERDF funded), ACCESS (Innovate UK funded) and so on.In this role, I have used my expertise in project management and stakeholder engagement, as well as a deep understanding of public sector funding rules, to drive innovation strategies and consortium-building efforts. I have cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders such as Innovate UK, Made Smarter, NetZero, and the Automotive Council. Spearheading the development of innovation strategies and project proposals and securing funding opportunities have been a critical aspect of my responsibilities.Furthermore, I manage membership, acting as a gateway for regional companies to access NEAA services and engaging with regional and national innovation programs to support the North East automotive sector. Providing strategic guidance and operational support to working groups, I ensure alignment with organisational objectives and effective delivery of outcomes. I currently lead initiatives like the Digitisation Working Group and EV North, aimed at driving technology adoption and positioning the region as an electrified powertrain hub.

Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

AVID Technology Ltd is a pioneering company specialising in vehicle electrification and hybridisation solutions. As the Systems Integration Project Manager, I was responsible for managing a complex portfolio of projects ranging from small-scale initiatives to multi-million-pound government-funded programs, all focused on developing and integrating cutting-edge electrical components and systems for major OEMs and independent organisations. One of my notable achievements was delivering a £4.36 million compact wheel loader electrification program for a global OEM, leading the project from concept to successful completion through meticulous planning, risk mitigation, and stakeholder management. I also managed several APC and Innovate UK government-funded projects, showcasing expertise in navigating public sector funding rules, governance frameworks, and consortium collaboration. Additionally, I contributed to winning new business by working closely with sales and business development teams, leveraging a proven track record of securing both commercial and government-funded projects. My responsibilities included overseeing the full project lifecycle, from requirements gathering and documentation to scheduling, resource allocation, and progress tracking against budgets and timelines. I collaborated with cross-functional teams, fostering positive relationships and ensuring seamless integration of mechanical, electrical, and software components. Furthermore, I developed and implemented project management procedures and processes to streamline operations and improve efficiency.

Cramlington, Northumberland, United Kingdom

In this role, I managed and planned AVID's installation and servicing teams, ensuring the company's micro-hybrid systems and products were installed and maintained according to stringent customer schedules and quality standards. A notable achievement during this period was coordinating and successfully delivering a 3-month, 35-vehicle upgrade project for Keolis in France, handling design improvements, logistics, and team management. Furthermore, when required, I would deploy to job sites for installations and repairs, providing hands-on support and troubleshooting when remote assistance was insufficient.

As the Lead Installation Technician, I oversaw on-site installations and repairs of AVID's micro-hybrid systems across various vehicle platforms. Additionally, I supported the design team in ongoing product improvement efforts and provided continuity as the second-in-command to the Installation Manager. My key responsibilities included training and supervising junior team members and facilitating skill development and knowledge transfer. I also collaborated with the engineering team to implement design enhancements and product improvements based on installation insights.

Tasking and supervising up to 8 Class 1 Vehicle Inspectors for engineering and inspecting tasks, this included mentoring and advising on Vehicle and accessory-based inspection standards/techniques • Providing the best equipment availability than on any previous Op Herrick achieved through time management and planning all inspections providing a high rate of vehicles for operations.• Providing inspections and engineering solutions for fixed and mobile cranes and associated lifting equipment meant quite often having to work all night to inspect and fix ready for operations all carried out at very short notice.• Implemented regular maintenance and inspections to improve vehicle longevity, resulting in the department having enough equipment to successfully complete the mission.• With the start of redeployment (the plan to reduce the number of vehicles in the theatre and close down some forward operating bases and patrol bases by inspecting, repairing and redeploying vehicles back to the UK), the number of inspections for the department trip. With strict deadlines and objectives to be met it meant running shifts 24 hours a day, 6 days a week to hit the targets. The department was praised for its careful thorough work.• Prepared and supplied weekly progress reports at the twice-weekly meetings outlining progress and any issues with a corrective action plan to reduce and mitigate future issues.• With the increased demand that was being put on the Battalion, I prepared and proposed a new document to accompany each vehicle being handed back from the end user all the way back to the UK. (nicknamed the POGO Passport)

IC and Team Leader of up to 30 personnel tasked to inspect and repair equipment, supervise and manage the integration and modification of the WMIK to the improved tactical RWMIK.• Tasked with managing a team of around 30 mechanics with the mission of upgrading all 60 remaining LandRover WMIK’s t the revised and improved R-WMIK in theatre within a 3-month time frame.• To meet this demanding challenge an average of 10 vehicle upgrades would need to be undertaken in the workshop at any one time and with space and workshop resources becoming an issue. Start, finish times and part delivery’s had to be staggered so as to have all teams working efficiently and without delays.• Always prepared and able to step in and help teams out when additional assistance was needed while keeping a close eye on the overall plan.• Prepared and supplied weekly progress reports at the weekly meetings outlining any issues and proposed corrective actions to mitigate these and improve progress moving forward.