Sir Michael Ryan CBE appointed as the Industry Chair of the Aerospace Growth Partnership
13 January 2022
Sir Michael Ryan CBE, Vice President and General Manager of Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, has been appointed as the Industry Chair of the Aerospace Growth Partnership. Sir Michael’s appointment follows the retirement of Colin Smith CBE, who concluded his very successful 5-year term as the Chair of the partnership in December 2021.
Colin Smith welcomes Sir Michael to the role: “It’s been a privilege to lead the Aerospace Growth Partnership on behalf of the UK aerospace industry for the last five years, I’ve enjoyed working with the Government on many important issues such as the supply chain, skills and training, and especially the significant investment in technology through the Aerospace Technology Institute, needed for the decarbonisation of our sector. Sir Michael will do a fantastic job taking the AGP to its next phase and I wish him the best of luck.”
On his appointment, Sir Michael Ryan said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to represent the UK aerospace industry as the industry Chair of the AGP. The future of our industry is a matter very close to my heart and I’m looking forward to continuing the work of Colin and the team on our Jet Zero future and maintaining our position as one of the leading aerospace nations in the world”.
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Sir Michael Ryan was born in Belfast in 1959. He graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1981 with an honours degree in aeronautical engineering, and joined Short Brothers the same year. Prior to and following Bombardier’s acquisition of Shorts in 1989, he held various senior management positions, including in advanced composites production, fabrications and procurement. In May 2000, he was appointed vice-president and general manager of Bombardier’s Belfast operations, and in July 2017 became President of the Canadian corporation’s aerostructures business. In 2020, he helped manage the Belfast operation’s successful transition to the new ownership of Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems. He was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List in 2005, and in 2009 received an Honorary Doctorate from Queen’s University Belfast for services to business and commerce, followed by an Honorary Doctorate in 2015 from Ulster University for service to business and corporate social responsibility. In 2021 he was knighted for his services to the economy. Sir Michael is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Married with three children, he enjoys sports, reading and listening to music. |
AGP Website Refresh
The Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) has launched its redesigned website, delivering on one of the AGP engagement working group’s key objectives for 2019. The updated website provides key information on all existing and future AGP related programmes and activities, including information on Research and Technology, Business Improvement, and Skills development programmes delivered in partnership between the industry and HMG.
Balaji Srimoolanathan, Programme Director of the AGP, added: “We’re are very excited to be able to announce the launch of our new website. With the AGP “celebrating 10 years” in 2020, the new website enables us to better signpost and share information on programmes to a wide range of our stakeholders in the sector and beyond. As part of the wider AGP communications plan, which incorporates social media and other communication channels, the site will deliver more accessible, concise and up-to-date information.”
Should you wish to get in touch with the AGP, please use the Contact Form which can be found here.
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