Oxfordshire-bsed Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of automotive industry veteran, Jean-Marc Gales, as chairman of the board. Mr Gales will work closely with the WAE Board and CEO Craig Wilson, who has led WAE for seven years, to develop the future direction and growth of the leading technology and engineering business.

In a distinguished 30-year career in the automotive industry, he has led the turnaround of Lotus as CEO and was a former CEO of Peugeot and Citroen. He also held senior executive positions at Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen. Mr Gales was also CEO of CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, and has been a senior advisor to Geely.

He is a non-executive director of EuroGroup S.p.A, global leader in rotors and stators for electric motors, LuxProvide, which installs and operates the Luxembourg super computer, and is a member of the International Advisory Board of Tikehau Capital T2 Energy Transition Fund. An engineer by profession Mr Gales has an MBA from Imperial College in London.

He said: “I have long admired WAE and the unique expertise in efficient electrification that it delivers for its clients. The business has built a strong platform and now, with the new ownership structure and support of EMK Capital, I look forward to working closely with the board and Craig to develop the full potential of this great business.”