The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) has strengthened its non-executive board with the appointment of highly experienced and influential industry leaders Neil Logan and Allan Cook CBE (pictured above).

The duo brings extensive leadership in engineering, manufacturing and digital entrepreneurship to the board. Their expertise will support the leadership team and help NMIS continue to deliver transformative impact across the manufacturing community in Scotland and beyond.

Neil Logan has a broad range of experience and a passion for leading and supporting innovative businesses grow and succeed. He is the former CEO and co-founder of Incremental Group, where he spearheaded projects and strategies to support the company’s growth through to its successful sale in 2022. 

Neil also served as the chair of The Data Lab from 2014 to 2018, where he played a pivotal role in supporting the organisation’s mission of generating economic value from data science and analytics.

Allan Cook CBE is a renowned industrial engineer and business leader with expertise in the automotive, aerospace, and defence industries. Most recently he was: Chair of global engineering consultancy, Atkins; the High Value Manufacturing Catapult; and, HS2. 

Allan served as chief executive at Cobham PLC and has held senior executive roles at GEC-Marconi, BAE Systems, and Hughes Aircraft and is currently chair of the Materials Innovation Leadership Group for the Henry Royce Institute.

Neil Logan said, “I’m delighted to join the NMIS board and drive innovation in the manufacturing industry. With my background in digital transformation and technology, I have been at the forefront of a range of projects and initiatives that have helped to future-proof engineering and manufacturing companies operating across the UK. 

I’m looking forward to using this experience to support more ambitious companies across the manufacturing, engineering and tech sectors through NMIS.”

Allan Cook CBE commented: “Supporting NMIS with its ambition to secure Scotland’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing is a great opportunity. Innovation and collaboration are critical for solving complex industrial-scale challenges and NMIS has a clear role in facilitating that across key sectors.”

NMIS is operated by the University of Strathclyde and part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde and Chair of the NMIS board, said: “I’m delighted to welcome both Neil Logan and Allan Cook to the board of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.

Their vast expertise, business experience and diverse skill sets are incredibly valuable and will help add to NMIS’s strong strategic leadership in helping to transform the manufacturing landscape in Scotland, the wider UK and beyond. I very much look forward to working with them both.”

Chris Courtney, CEO NMIS, added: “I am delighted that executives with the calibre of Neil and Allan have agreed to join our already high-quality board. They will both bring experience and deep insights that will help us enable the growth of manufacturing, by harnessing the power of technology to deliver net zero. 

Their background in delivering growth in manufacturing and technology-based companies will be invaluable.”