Westley Engineering has appointed Christopher Greenough as Managing Director, succeeding the retiring John Harland at the Birmingham precision presswork, tooling, CNC machining, and production engineering specialist.
The leadership change marks a new phase for a manufacturing business with roots stretching back more than two centuries. Today, Westley Engineering employs 47 people and generates annual turnover of approximately £5m from its combined presswork, tooling, and CNC machining operations.
From its purpose-designed Birmingham facility, the company supports customers with tooling manufacture and production component supply under one roof. Its capabilities span an extensive press shop and advanced CNC machining operations, serving automotive, industrial, aerospace, and defence customers.
The company holds IATF 16949 automotive accreditation and AS9100 aerospace certification, giving it a strong platform for further diversification into higher-value engineering markets. Quality systems, traceability, and domestic manufacturing capability are increasingly important in those sectors, particularly where customers are reviewing supply chain resilience.
Greenough joins with more than 30 years’ experience in senior operational leadership roles across British manufacturing, including Commercial Director and Managing Director positions. His priorities include operational growth, customer relationship development, workforce skills, and long-term expansion.
“Westley Engineering has an extraordinary heritage and reputation which has been built over generations,” he said. “What immediately stood out to me was the depth of engineering capability within the business and the commitment of the people here. There is a huge opportunity to build on those foundations and take the company into an exciting new phase of growth, building on the strong foundations laid by John Harland.”
Recent investment at the business includes a Brother Speedio S70 XD1 CNC machine, EDM spark erosion equipment, and a Mazak turning centre. Greenough has also identified apprenticeship development and workforce skills as priorities as the company builds capacity for future growth.
“The objective is clear — we want to build a stronger, larger and more resilient business,” he added. “There is no reason why Westley Engineering cannot double in size over time. The opportunity is there, the capability is here and we have a fantastic team to build around.”
