At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Chairman operating in the Aerospace space. If you think a Chairman is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Gilo Cardozo
Founder ,Chairman & CTO of Gilo Industries
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About Gilo Industries: Gilo Industries, a Dorset-based aerospace technology startup
David Richards
Founder & Chairman of Prodrive
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About Prodrive: Prodrive is one of the world’s leading motorsport
Bruce Dickinson
Chairman of Cardiff Aviation
Bruce Dickinson is the lead singer of Iron Maiden, a commercial pilot, brewmaster, entrepreneur and creative business thinker. Bruce was a pilot and Marketing Director for Astraeus Airlines, a company which leased aircraft to other carriers, and is the Chairman and founder of Cardiff Aviation which specialises in heavy maintenance of Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft. Bruce is also involved in an air ship venture to manufacture lighter than air hybrid transport aircraft and Pouncer, the incredible edible drone developed by Windhorse Aerospace that will safely fly humanitarian aid into hard to access disaster areas. Bruce hasn’t stopped flying Boeing 757s, and in 2016 flew the band around the globe on their “Book of Souls” world tour in their own 747.
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About Cardiff Aviation: Cardiff Aviation is an aviation maintenance, engineering, technical services, and training group based in the UK.
Nigel Gifford
Founder and Chairman of Windhorse Aerospace
Nigel Gifford OBE CP Eng.(Aero) Chairman / Founder Windhorse Aerospace Nigel is best described as an eclectic solutions architect ~ drawing on skills, practical experience, and research acquired at different times of his life. It is from his aeronautical, skydiving and catering background he conceived the Pouncer(tm) food carrying AV that is also made of edible components. Presently, using his specialist knowledge in feeding in non-human environments, Nigel is working to get Pouncer(tm) into service with his team, and is working in the critical food technology area to ensure that the food cargo and edible structure are fit for purpose on deployment as first response into disaster areas Biography Brought up in a busy restaurant, and then trained as a chef at the Army School of Catering, Nigel has extensive knowledge of differing styles of cuisine. This includes feeding explorers and adventurers in remote and hostile environments, as well as cooking at 26,000ft on Mt Everest in 1976. He wrote the present Royal Geographical Society catering manual and his advice is still sought for extreme expeditions. As an aerospace solutions architect Nigel has designed equipment for UK Special Forces, and built protective equipment housings for the RAF Tornado. In 1991 he designed a special camera platform for the first ever hot air balloon flight at 33,000ft over Mt Everest and worked on Sir Richard Branson’s round the world balloon project advising on the small capsule’s internal ergonomic layout, feeding, and the living routines for the crew confined inside. Prior to Windhorse, he was Managing Director of the Ascenta™ – The high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle acquired by Facebook in 2014 to provide Internet access into the developing world. The aircraft has since been renamed Aquila by Facebook.
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About Windhorse Aerospace: Windhorse Aerospace has created the world’s first purpose-built UAV/Drone intended for humanitarian aid delivery – POUNCER.
Kevin Sargent
Executive Chairman of Farsound
Kevin Sargent is the executive chairman at Farsound Aviation and Sterling Aircraft Product.
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About Farsound: Farsound provides consumable component parts for the aerospace engine sector.
