Executive Leadership Team

Group CEO

James Salisbury

Following a degree in Accounting & Finance, James tried his hand at being a Chartered Accountant, found it really wasn’t to his liking, so ran a few foundries instead. After undertaking an MBA designed to lead to a career change away from foundries, James and his business partner Rob Salisbury decided it would be a good idea to lead the MBI of Westley Group – a foundry business. Since the MBI, James has dedicated his life to restructuring Westley Group and creating the fabulous team of dedicated professionals who run it.

In his spare time he likes to spend as much time as possible with his three children and wonderfully understanding wife, with the occasional gym session or ski holiday squeezed in to try and keep him sane.

Group CCO

Rob Salisbury

A degree in Biology saw Rob initially undertake a foray into medical sales before attaining a masters degree in Marketing. Following a short career in retail sales and marketing for large FMCG corporations, Rob quickly determined that he wanted to work for himself. This aspiration saw the partnership established with James, resulting in the MBI of Westley Group. Rob has a very practical and analytical mind, which has been critical in the structuring and development of Westley Group with James.

Rob is married with 2 sons and his passions include Manchester United and golf.

Chief Technical Officer

Chris Rowlands

Chris is a chartered engineer, with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. He spent his early career in aerospace, working for Dowty, but for the 20 plus years prior to joining Westley Group, he worked for Wärtsilä, in that time overseeing their transition from single-piece equipment supplier to submarine propulsion shaft line integrator, and taking ownership of design, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and through-life support. In his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing and mountain biking, whilst spending as much time as possible with his wife and three teenaged children.

Group Finance Director

Mike Richards

Mike left the University of Manchester with a degree in Leisure Management and embarked on an accounting career with a big 4 firm completing further professional qualifications in chartered accountancy and corporate restructuring. After serving time in audit and then corporate finance & restructuring he was approached by Rob and James to be part of the executive team and join the Westley Group journey. It must have been an interesting ride as he is still here after more than 10 years. His transactional skills and financing have been extremely useful in the Group’s investment and divestment program along the way.

Mike lives with his family in the West Midlands and is still holding on to his amateur football career by a thread. He also loves to hit the slopes during the winter season.

General Manager, Centrifugal Division

Mark Dougan

Following an Apprenticeship in Toolmaking, Mark advanced into the field of Quality Management, working at various automotive foundry businesses and gained an Honours Degree in Management of Manufacturing Systems along the way. Mark joined Westley Group at Spunalloys in 1999, initially employed as Quality Manager. He quickly progressed to Group Quality and H&S Director, before becoming Spunalloys and Cradley Heath site’s General Manager in 2014. Mark is married with 2 children and is a keen golfer and an avid follower of Aston Villa FC.

General Manager, Machining Division

Tariq Suleman

Tariq attained a degree in Manufacturing Engineering, which saw him enter industry as a Production Engineer. A keen eye for deadlines and metrics saw Tariq move quickly into Operation and Supply Chain with roles held at large organisations domestically and overseas. Appointments saw Tariq hold various senior roles across diverse industries from semi-conductors, electronics, aerospace, and general manufacturing. An MBA, proven project management skills, and a continuous improvement mind-set makes Tariq ideally placed for a demanding and varied manufacturing role. Tariq is a big movie buff and loves to play squash and watch football.

General Manager, Static Cast Division

Colin Toft

Colin brings 32 years of extensive foundry knowledge and experience to the Westley Group. Colin has held several senior management positions throughout his carrier in production, sales, and operations. Colin joined Westley Group as General Manager of the Static Casting Division in 2016 after leaving his 6 year role as Director of a Large Steel Foundry Group.

Sales Director

Nick Cooper

Following a degree in Geological Engineering, Nick had assumed a career in the offshore oil industry beckoned only to be lured into the metals industry where he worked as development engineer for a refractory metals manufacturer. Once he had completed the successful implementation of a new production line his career progression took him into manufacturing management and then sales management. Headhunted by Langley Alloys to lead its sales function Nick became Sales Director and also oversaw Langley Alloys integration into Meighs Castings Ltd, once this new division had been successfully embedded into Meighs Castings Nick was asked to oversee sales for both businesses as Sales Director and then Managing Director.

After a lifetime ambition to enter the educational profession Nick made a life changing decision to become a teacher, having gained a teaching degree Nick took a 9 year ‘secondment’ as a teacher and lecturer, during which time he was lucky enough to work with some inspiring colleagues and young people alike.

Realising that he missed the cut and thrust of the world of engineering, particularly the foundry industry and having well and truly realised his lifetime ambition, Nick was lucky enough to be employed by Westley Group as Sales Director of its centrifugal casting division, Spunalloys Ltd, and has more latterly taken some sales responsibility for Westley Groups sand foundry division, Meighs and Westley Ltd.

Nick lives with his wife and has two children, now grown up. Having enjoyed playing a range of sports, including Rugby and Cricket, he now prefers the safety, warmth and friendly banter of the stands. Golf is the next challenge which is proving interesting.

Foundry Director

Terry King

Terry is everything foundry! Having literally served his time as moulder, coremaker, methods engineer, supervisor, and foundry manager in his early years, Terry progressed to designing and implementing foundry related projects all over the world. The experience gained saw him recruited to a senior role with the historic company which today is embedded within the Meighs & Westleys business. Terry’s responsibilities have been varied with roles in operations and sales, whereas nowadays for Westley Group Terry’s role as Foundry Director is far more technically based. Terry has 2 daughters and a granddaughter, which keep him very busy when he isn’t gardening, playing golf, or watching Newcastle United.

Sales Manager

Andrew Gallear

Andy joined Walter Frank straight from college in 1990 and immediately set about developing a career borne out a natural aptitude for engineering and sheer dedication. Andy now has over 30 years of dedicated service to a Company and product range he sees as his own. Initial roles saw experience and a vocational apprenticeship gained in drawing and general engineering before a natural progression saw Andy move into Technical Sales and then overall Sales Management responsibility. In 2014 Andy took on the overall mantle of the combined site’s Sales & Commercial Manager role for both Walter Frank and Francis Birketts. Andy loves all sports especially football and golf and cherishes his family holidays to Portugal.

Sales, Commercial & Systems Manager.

Scott Bingley

Scott embarked in a career in Finance after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a degree in Accounting and Financial Management in 2008. In 2012, Scott was admitted as a Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants before joining Westley Group as Site Accountant in 2013. In the years that followed Scott’s passion, enthusiasm, and keen eye for analysis has seen him become an integral member of the Group’s Leadership Team.

Scott enjoys all sport and is coming to an end of a supposedly impressive amateur football career. Strangely, he admits to being a Sheffield Wednesday FC supporter.