Board Of Directors

Philip Gwyn - Joint Chairman

Philip is a barrister and merchant banker by training. He is Chairman of the Board at Christie Group plc, a non-executive director of Alumasc plc and director of a number of private companies.

Gary Elliott - Chief Executive Officer

Gary Elliott is Chief Executive for Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) and is responsible for developing the company’s strategy and maintaining its operational focus. He has a background in business leadership gained across various sectors, including Aerospace & Defence, Mechanical/Electrical Manufacturing and Financial Services. Prior to joining HAV Gary held various leadership roles with BAE Systems over a 10-year period, living and working in a number of major international markets. Gary holds a BEng with honours in Aeronautical Engineering from The Queens University and an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management.

Pommy Sarwal - Joint Chairman

Pommy, a former corporate finance partner at Deloitte, is Secretary & Advisor to the Review Board for Government contracts, and is currently a Non-executive Director of Chatham Historic Dockyard, Hyde Housing Association, and Infrastructure India plc, and a member of the board of both the Port of London Authority and British Waterways. In addition, he is a member of the Ports Advisory Group of the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform - Trade & Investment Division. Pommy chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Remuneration Committees. He is also Chairman of Venners.

Willie Pennefather - Chief Operating Officer

Willie Pennefather - Executive Director

Willie retired from the Royal Navy in 2003 with wide seagoing experience, successful high level staff work, extensive management skills and deep expertise in the Direction of expeditionary maritime logistic operations. He is a graduate of the Joint Services Defence College. After leaving the Navy, he attended Manchester Business School. Since then, he has been corporately involved in the LTA business and, on two occasions, directed its supporting companies. From 2004 – 2007, he marketed for Advanced Technologies Group and Skycat Group, and was Director Hybrid Air Projects. From 2007 – 2011 he has been variously CEO/COO of Hybrid Air Vehicles, is now Executive Director Hybrid Air Vehicles.

Stephen McGlennan - Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

Steve was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of HAV in 2011. He has been associated with the company since 2007 and throughout that period has been its lead legal advisor while a senior partner and board director of SNR Denton. Steve has extensive international experience particularly in the US and the Middle East where he was the resident member of SNR Denton's Global Advisory Committee. Between 1999 and 2002 he was CEO of Team Netsol Limited, a java-based software house in Manchester. Steve holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh and also attended the University of Pennsylvania.

Andy Hiscock – Finance Director

Andy Hiscock is responsible for HAV’s financial management. Andy trained as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in London and subsequently joined GlaxoSmithKline where for 7 years he performed several commercial financial management roles within the head office and the consumer healthcare division. For the last 6 years, Andy has worked in senior financial roles within the private aviation sector including Finance Director at NetJets, the worldwide leader in private jets, where he was responsible for implementing strong financial stewardship at a time of rapid growth. Andy has a BA in Economics and Statistics from Exeter University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Mike Durham – Technical Director

Mike has over twenty years’ experience developing lighter than air technologies. Having graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Mike started his career with British Aerospace, and during the next few years became involved with structural design for the Hubble Space Telescope, SkyNet4 and fatigue analysis on the Tornado and Harrier ADV aircraft. He joined Roger Munk’s team in 1988 where his talent and passion for the LTA business were quickly recognised and under Roger’s leadership, Mike took on the responsibilities of lead designer for multiple military and civil projects, later becoming a CAA Approved Signatory and Company Design Authority. Mike now leads the technical development of the entire HAV family of air vehicles.

Michael Steel - Non-Executive Director

Michael has a strong background at director level in the Aerospace Sector, most recently as President of the Mechanical Systems business of GE Aviation Systems (formerly Smiths Aerospace) where he had worked for 17 years in various senior commercial and operational roles managing US and UK aerospace businesses. Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and is a Non-executive Director of Senior plc. He qualified as a solicitor in 1976 before starting a career in industry.

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HAV test flight

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HAV on BBC News

The new vehicle set to revolutionise
the skies