Meet our Senior Managers

John Boston - Managing Director

Joined: 02.01.1989

Electronics manufacturing Engineer and Micro-electronics expert with 44 years experience at the leading edge of electronics design and manufacture.

Jon Burgess - General Manager & Director

Joined: 04.02.2013

Commercial professional with over 30 years’ contract manufacturing experience in both Engineering and Commercial roles, joining CIL in 2013 as a Customer Account Manager. Becoming Commercial Manager in 2016 Jon significantly developed the Commercial team and function within the business and is an integral part of the growth of CIL. Jon was appointed Commercial Director in 2019 and in July 2023 has been further promoted to General Manager.

James Cotty - Head of Power Electronics

Joined: 07.06.2021

With over twenty-five years automotive industry experience and holding a BEng (Hons) Degree, James joined CIL in 2021 to run the @FutureBev programme; CIL’s first Silicon Carbide (SiC) power module developed in partnership with BMW and Compound Semi-conductor Applications (CSAC). James brings with him a wealth of industry knowledge having spent considerable time at companies such as Rolls Royce Cars, Ford Motor Company and Jaguar Landrover, where he successfully engineered, managed and delivered a number of projects. James is a strong believer in adhering to a structured engineering approach using industry defined best-practice and loves nothing more than problem solving using Six Sigma quality tools backed by data.

The Power Electronics Team

• Engaged on a number new and exciting projects for well-known brands, where we are considered an integrated process partner, not simply a supplier
• Provide structured project management practices from waterfall planning to incorporating Agile methodologies, where required to ensure the fastest, most favourable outcomes
• Work closely with Quality to ensure best practices are formed and adopted into the Product Development cycle
• Our technical teams develop cutting-edge SiC power module solutions for a range of applications, from sintering packaged devices to working at bare-die level
• Our process engineers work closely with designers to ensure manufacturing processes are robust, efficient and above all class-leading in application

Craig Furber - Commercial Manager

Joined: 26.09.2011

Commercial professional with 8 years’ experience as a Key Customer Account Manager within the contract electronics manufacturing sector.
Craig joined CIL in 2011 on a temporary contract within the production Box Build environment before embarking on a 4-year period within the Quality team where he kick started his career training as a Quality professional and becoming a member of the Chartered Quality Institute. Craig’s time within the Quality team provided a good understanding of process controls and technologies within the industry which enabled him to provide customers with keen process knowledge when he pivoted into a commercial role in 2016. Since then, Craig has been providing account management support to key strategic customers operating in challenging and demanding markets whilst supporting mutually beneficial and sustainable growth for both CIL and the client. In 2023 Craig was appointed Commercial Manager and has since been supporting the wider account management team and client base within CIL.

 The Commercial Team

• Providing support to all individual customers relating to all commercial activities, quality, and delivery performance.
• Connecting all internal stakeholders to achieve the common goal of supporting customer demands
• Supporting the ongoing strategy of the business, based on existing and new customer opportunities

Paul Freeman - Head of Engineering

Joined: 30.10.2023

With over 21 years’ experience working in the electronics manufacturing industry, across the military/aerospace/motorsport sectors, this extensive journey has allowed me to fully understand the requirements to be successful in PCBA manufacturing. Having led numerous projects over the years, supporting both large OEMS and the smaller CEMs visualised their processes, I have been able to support the industry in optimising their surface mount technology (SMT) using personnel, equipment, and real-time data.

I firmly believe in using statistical process control (SPC) proactively as intended, rather than reacting after the event. Process control and optimisation is critical, and being skilled in technical support, risk assessment, root cause analysis, and LEAN manufacturing, I continue to use my knowledge and experience to help support the business grow, whilst further supporting its high standards and reputation across the industry.

The Engineering team

• Engage with external customers and the commercial team to define and establish manufacturing requirements, technologies and processes for new and existing products.
• Leadership and management of the New Product Introduction (NPI) Process from enquiry through to product delivery for PCB and Product assemblies.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of CIL technologies, engineering and manufacturing processes. 

Amanda Hayter - Quality Manager

Joined: 09.10.2023

 With over 20 years’ experience working within the quality function, Amanda’s experience covers a range of small start-up type businesses through to global organisations covering a range of industries. Having spent the last 10 years as a Quality Manager, her experience has been focussed on supporting companies undergoing changes in strategic direction and strategic growth plans.   Amanda brings a wealth of experience in developing quality systems achieving and maintaining certification and accreditations, and, building and developing teams to drive quality strategy and culture. A proven track record of continuous improvement, and taking an analytical approach to making informed decisions based on reliable and robust data.

The Quality Team:

• Has been significantly expanded to support the CIL business strategy, delivering improved product quality to all of our customers
• An engaged and professional team with extensive experience in quality within the electronics industry
• Establish relationships with stakeholders to drive product quality
• Ensure our customers are at the forefront of quality-based decisions
• Focus on continuous improvement at every stage from inception through to end of product life cycle

The Health, Safety and Environmental Team:

• An engaged team with extensive experience and qualification in health and safety requirements
• Focus on the health and safety of all CIL employees, customers, visitors, and contractors to the organisation
• Promote a positive health and safety culture within the organisation
• Monitor the baseline environmental footprint of our organisation, identify opportunities for reducing the footprint and set targets to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment

Jane Mitter - Finance Director

Joined: 05.05.2015

Senior Finance Executive who joined the Group in 2015 and has 20 years’ experience within the Electronics Industry.  A proven track record of driving financial operations with a ‘hands on’ approach and successfully developing and implementing policies and processes to improve overall financial performance.

The Finance Team:

• Provide Management Information and data to support the business strategy and track financial progress against the company plan.
• Make recommendations based on both historic figures and future forecasts.
• Manage cash flow to provide working capital, liquidity and funds for growth and expansion.
• Maintain close relationships with internal and external stakeholders of the business.

Donna Proctor - HR Manager

Joined: 26.03.2018

Senior Human Resources generalist with over 17 years’ HR experience within the manufacturing sector and a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources from CIPD. As the Head of HR, Donna supports the business to develop, lead and deliver people related strategy, policies, processes, and vision whilst ensuring legal compliance. With an excellent track record, she advises and supports the management team and wider businesses to resolve challenging issues related to our most important asset – our people

The HR Team

• Provide expert advice and support on all HR matters with both a strategic and an operational focus.
• Support the people management functions that underpin the business culture.
• Deliver people management strategies in support of the company’s strategic aims.

Jason Reid – Operations Manager

Joined: 05.09.2022

Head of Operations with 20 years’ experience working for multi-national organisations. Holding a Diploma in Management and Leadership. Proven track record in delivering against customer needs with an emphasis on quality and efficiency. Known as a caring, highly energetic, and enabling leader, never accepting the status quo.

The Operations Team

• Dedicated teams made up of Planning, SMT, Conventional Soldering, Inspection, and Test, ensuring products are produced to high standards
• High level of production across Surface Mount and conventional soldering
• Stock management of components and finished product
• Machine management and development to ensure output

Tina White - Supply Chain Director

Joined: 11.06.2013

Senior supply chain professional with over 20 years’ experience within the electronics industry and a graduate with Professional Diploma from The Oxford College of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS accreditation). Tina has worked extensively within distribution and contract manufacturing and has developed skills and knowledge within a broad range of industries. Joined the CIL Purchasing Team in 2013 and attained position of Supply Chain Director January 2024.  Has enjoyed development of a talented procurement team and newly working with the stores team who possess a wealth of knowledge and expertise in management of electronic component inventory, kitting and SMT set up.  We strive to deliver on company strategies including a trajectory of growth in diverse industries and market conditions.  Driven to deliver good quality of service to our stakeholders and to achieve CIL strategic objectives.

The Purchasing Team

• A professional dedicated team with several years of procurement experience in an electronic contract manufacturing environment.
• A culture of learning with the adoption of CIPS training for employees, which promotes best practice within the procurement profession and its practices.
• Dedicated support for our customers with strategic sourcing of hard to-find components and intelligent component analytics.
• Established relationships with market leading suppliers of electronic components.

• Continuous development of efficiencies to support the activities of our internal and external stakeholders.

The Stores Team

• A specialised and dedicated team with extensive experience in storage and management of electronic and mechanical components for use in contract manufacturing.
• A culture of team work, learning and continuous improvement striving for best practice whilst adopting a framework of 5S methodologies.
• Good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including strong links with carriers and suppliers.
• Support of business strategies, which include management of CIL and customer owned inventories to support production.

Stewart Wilson - Microelectronics Engineering Director

Joined: 12.04.1999

Joined CIL in 1999 following graduation from Cardiff University and has enjoyed 24 years of working within CIL’s clean rooms on die bond, wire bond and encapsulation manufacturing processes. Since heading up the microelectronics section of CIL in 2017 as Microelectronics Director, Stewart continues to assemble and mentor a team of specialist manufacturing engineers to support CIL’s growth into the microelectronics, advanced packaging and power electronics business sectors.

The Microelectronics Engineering Team

• Provide the microelectronics production teams with technical and process support.
• Gather data on manufacturing processes in order to demonstrate compliance.
• Use manufacturing process data to continuously review process capability, efficiency and implement improvements wherever possible.
• Work with external customers and the Commercial Team to define and establish manufacturing process requirements for new products
• and ensure documented procedures are in place for the Microelectronics Production Teams.