Bicester-based Hardide Coatings (www.hardide.com) has created the post of quality assurance manager as it gears up to ‘grow’ its business in the aerospace sector.

With 30 years of aerospace systems experience, Neil Jeskins joins from Bureau Veritas, where he was an aerospace lead auditor for AS9100 and associated standards.

Before that, he was in the RAF for 27 years, where his responsibilities included the maintenance of Puma helicopters at RAF Benson.

At Hardide Coatings, Mr Jeskins will be responsible for the company’s quality organisation and its QA accreditations and customer approvals, including the aerospace standards Nadcap and AS9100. His role will cover the company’s manufacturing facilities in Oxfordshire (UK) and Virginia (USA).

Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide plc, said: “This new position is a significant development for the company, as we will now have a qualified and experienced aerospace systems expert — dedicated to quality assurance — within our management team.”