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New Chief Executive for the Technology Strategy Board

The Secretary of State for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, today announced the appointment of Iain Gilmour Gray, as Chief Executive of the Government's Technology Strategy Board.

Announcing the appointment Mr Denham said:

I welcome Iain Gray to the Technology Strategy Board. Iain has a track record of success holding key roles at Airbus UK, including his most recent role as its Managing Director and General Manager.

Iain's background as a leading business figure, his management experience and expertise in business R&D will be a great asset to the Board as it drives forward its aim to make the UK a global leader in the development of new technologies to drive economic growth".

Iain Gray said:

I am delighted to be able to take up this challenge and look forward to joining the Technology Strategy Board at the beginning of November.

The Chair of the Technology Strategy Board, Dr Graham Spittle, said:

I am delighted that Iain Gray is to join the Technology Strategy Board as Chief Executive. The new Technology Strategy Board is an organisation with business very much as its focus.

It is business people who are best placed to understand the needs of the market, and the Board's activities will respond to the needs of business. Iain's experience will be of great benefit to the Board and I look forward to working with him.

Notes to Editors

  1. Iain Gray's appointment has been made following an open competition.
  2. Mr Gray is currently Managing Director and General Manager Airbus UK and Head of A380 Wing. He joined British Aerospace Commercial Aircraft (Airbus) in 1979, and has held a variety of positions including Director Future Programmes, Director Strategy and External Affairs and Senior Vice President, Engineering prior to his appointment as Managing Director in January 2004. He is also a full council member of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a Member of the CBI's President's Committee and Chair, Business and Industry Panel at the Engineering Technical Board (ETB).
  3. Dr David Evans, (Director for Innovation, Department of Innovation Universities and Skills, DIUS), has been interim Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Technology Strategy Board since its establishment as an executive Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB).
  4. The Technology Strategy Board was established as an executive NDPB on 1 July 2007. It is sponsored by DIUS, and has a cross-Government role, advising on polices which relate to technology innovation and knowledge transfer and in delivering a national Technology Strategy.
  5. The Technology Strategy Board will promote and support research, development and the exploitation of science, technology and new ideas to benefit business, increase economic growth and improve the quality of life in the UK. It will be responsible for delivering Government support to encourage business investment in technology and innovation across all sectors of the UK economy. It will deliver this in a range of ways, including Collaborative R&D, Knowledge Transfer Networks, Innovation Platforms and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.