Arthur Richardson
Chief Executive
Arthur Richardson, executive director of South West MAS, has an impressive track record and world class manufacturing knowledge in the electrical and automotive industries, demonstrated by 40 years’ experience working up from the shop floor through to director level.
After leaving Nottingham University with a BSc (Hons) in Production Engineering and Management, Arthur began his career in manufacturing as a student apprentice with AEI in Rugby. He then became a manufacturing engineer at GEC Machines Company, where he spent almost a decade, attaining the position of factory manager before taking a job as senior manager at Rubber Processing Michelin at Clermont Ferrand in France.
In 1984, Arthur became plant manager at the Burnley base of Michelin’s rubber extrusion operation, then a six-year spell as manufacturing director with Isle of Man-based Strix Ltd. was followed by a move to Hawker Siddeley Switchgear Ltd. Here, Arthur was responsible for managing five assembly and four component manufacturing modules.
Prior to South West MAS, Arthur had been with Arvin Meritor since 1994, and was accountable for delivering £100 million sales turnover. He has been responsible for the continuous improvement of customer service, quality, cost and the project management of new products, processes, and systems. He helped achieve the successful sale of the division, its integration into a global automotive component corporation, followed by a major capital investment programme and step change in productivity.
Having led organisations through major changes and business re-engineering, Arthur is highly respected and a visionary leader with gravitas who has developed enviable partner relationships in the region and at a national level. He is able to motivate staff at all levels and enthuse internal and partner teams alike.
A fluent French speaker, Japanese-born Arthur enjoys mountaineering, climbing, skiing, woodwork and jazz.
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