Dundee-based GA Engineering Sliding Head, part of the Pryme Group, has bolstered its senior management team with a strategic appointment to help drive further growth in UK and international markets.

Kerry Devlin (pictured) has joined the company in the newly created role of operations director after it moved swiftly to fill the void left following the recent retirement of operations manager, Jim Stuart.

Part of integrated manufacturing specialist, Pryme Group, the business provides CNC machined components to many of the world’s leading manufacturers in a variety of industries including oil and gas, aerospace, defence and medical.

With more than a decade’s experience in industrial engineering, Ms Devlin has worked internationally in both the Far East and the USA for some of the world’s leading oilfield services businesses.

A graduate of the University of Strathclyde with an honours degree in product design engineering, Glasgow-born Kerry has risen through the ranks from working in a machine shop to plant, operations and project management roles – gaining key expertise in the manufacture of completion tools and support systems.

Most recently, she was global lean leader for US-based oilfield equipment and service firm, Weatherford. Based in Houston, Ms Devlin had responsibility for project managing international plant consolidations – before returning to Scotland in December.

Ms Devlin said: “I am pleased to have joined the team at GA Engineering Sliding Head and look forward to working closely with my new colleagues here in Dundee and across the rest of the group to build upon the incredible potential we have.

“The company has cemented its reputation by successfully diversifying into new sectors, including areas such as aerospace and medical equipment; something that I am sure will continue to be an important focus as the wider business environment recovers.

“As well as the chance to diversify away from oil and gas – where my background has been to date – I am excited about the opportunity to get back into a plant management role.

“We have an extremely talented team here with great potential and solid experience. This includes several people who have come through the apprenticeship route and still have that hunger to learn and improve at what we do to better support the needs of our customers.”

Kerrie Murray, Pryme Group CEO, said: “Kerry’s background working her way up for several major global organisations in different country settings has given her an enviable skillset and I have complete confidence in her ability to help lead the business to the next level.

“I wish her well in the new role and look forward to forging a close working relationship to help deliver on the ambitious goals we have as a business, including supporting our clients and partners to build back from the effects of the past year through high-quality engineering services.”

GA Engineering Sliding Head invested £100,000 in ‘state of the art’ inspection equipment last year and over the past four years, has purchased nearly £1 million of new machinery.

The latest two inspection units have allowed the company’s quality department to increase the productivity of inspection reporting, while maintaining dimensional control directly on the shopfloor.

In recent months and throughout the pandemic, the business has provided CNC machining support clients in critical industries, manufacturing vital components for motors, ventilators and other healthcare equipment.