Name

Cy

Position

Board Advisor

Location

Warwickshire

Big Business Experience

Eaton Electrical

Mayflower Vehicle Systems / Stadco

Small Business Experience

UnitBirwelco

Pailton Engineering

Summary

Cy is a turnaround and transformation CEO with nearly four decades’ experience in engineering and manufacturing, progressing from craft apprentice to chief executive. He helps SMEs and scale-ups stabilise performance, strengthen leadership, improve cash and delivery, and build sustainable growth.

His record includes moving a loss-making manufacturer to £3.8m EBITDA, increasing turnover by 200%, and improving OTIF from 50% to 97%. As CEO of UnitBirwelco, he has led restructuring, divestments and international growth through India and Saudi Arabia. He brings practical, commercially focused board support across strategy, operations, governance, M&A, and value creation.

Qualifications

• MBA, Engineering Management – Distinction; best MBA in cohort, Coventry University (2009)
• Postgraduate study, Automotive & Automotive Component Manufacture; all taught modules completed, Coventry University (2003)
• HNC Mechanical Engineering – Distinction (1998)

Key Areas of Expertise

• Business turnaround, restructuring, and transformation
• Multi-site P&L, cash, and operational leadership
• M&A, divestments, exit readiness and value creation
• International growth, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships
• Lean manufacturing, cost reduction, supply-chain, and delivery improvement

Experience

• CEO, UnitBirwelco (2019–present): restored profitability within months, reduced overhead by 20%, restructured debt into equity and led the group through COVID-19.
• Reshaped the portfolio, executing exits from two underperforming UK subsidiaries and establishing Birwelco as the UK engineering centre within a more international delivery model.
• Built joint ventures and strategic partnerships in India and Saudi Arabia; implemented integrated ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 systems and achieved carbon-negative status ahead of plan.
• Managing Director, Pailton Engineering (2015–2018): took the business from loss to £3.8m EBITDA, increased sales by 40%, lifted OTIF from 50% to 97%, improved productivity by 20% and prepared the company for exit.
• Managing Director/Operations Director, Cressall Power Resistors (2006–2014): increased turnover by 200% within three years, reduced component costs by up to 20% and integrated an acquired business.