Velocity Composites strengthens senior team

Lancashire manufacturer Velocity Composites has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of Kevin Hickey as chief operating officer.

Kevin will help lead its international growth, including overseeing the operation of its US manufacturing facility in Alabama.

With sites in Burnley and Fareham in the UK as well as Alabama, Velocity is the leading supplier of composite material kits to aerospace and other high-performance manufacturers. Customers include Airbus, Boeing, Safran and GKN Aerospace.

With more than 40 years’ experience in the aerospace industry, Kevin was site leader at Fareham from January 2017 to December 2020.

He began his career as an apprentice with British Aerospace at Hamble in 1980, leaving in December 2016 as a senior manager.

During that time he led various functions within the business including manufacturing, quality, engineering and sourcing.

In his new role, Kevin will be responsible for the global operations of Velocity Composites with particular focus on the US site operations in manufacturing, logistics and distribution.

He said: “It’s an exciting time to be rejoining Velocity Composites as we grow the business as an international organisation offering efficiencies to our customers wherever they are.

“We can reduce waste and work sustainably to help them meet their own targets and business aspirations.”

Jon Bridges, chief executive of Velocity Composites, said: “The experience Kevin has gained throughout his career will be invaluable as we grow the business worldwide to support the recovery of the aerospace industry.”