Burnley-based aerospace supplier Velocity Composites plc has announced the continued development of its next generation of leadership talent, spotlighting the contribution of Dan McNamara, Planning and Supply Chain Manager, as he steps into a more senior strategic role within the Group.
Dan, who joined Velocity in 2018, now leads the company’s global Planning and Supply Chain Team, overseeing long- and medium-term demand across a complex international customer base. His growing responsibility is a clear reflection of Velocity’s commitment to building deep supply chain resilience and precision planning capability as demand for composite material kits intensifies across global aerospace programmes.
“With the aerospace sector increasingly reliant on agile, digitally managed supply chains, Dan’s expertise has become critical to the way we deliver value to our customers,” said Jon Bridges, Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Composites. “He represents the strength of emerging leadership within our business, bringing a decade of sector experience and a clear understanding of what excellence looks like in high-performance composite supply chains.”
Dan’s career began with a planning and supply apprenticeship at Gurit, a global leader in advanced composite materials, before he joined Velocity at a time of strategic expansion. Since then, he has played a key role in the company’s evolution—especially in developing integrated systems to manage raw material procurement, kit delivery, and long-term demand planning across Velocity’s UK and US operations.
Today, Dan’s remit covers the global supplier base, managing both direct and indirect materials to support operations across all three of Velocity’s manufacturing sites, including its Nadcap-accredited facility in Tallassee, Alabama. His team ensures procurement activity is aligned with customer contracts and production forecasts—critical to maintaining the company’s high standard for delivery performance and contractual adherence.
“We’ve built a data-driven approach that allows us to forecast with precision, respond to change quickly, and support production schedules with confidence.” Velocity’s material kitting model—where raw composite materials are processed, precision-cut, and delivered in ready-to-use formats—has become a proven solution for major aerospace primes seeking cost reduction, reduced waste, and digital traceability. Dan’s role sits at the intersection of planning, customer interface, and supplier engagement, making him instrumental to delivering the consistency and reliability that customers demand.
“With our expanded footprint and growing partnerships in both commercial and defence aerospace, our supply chain must work as a seamless global system,” added Bridges. “Dan’s contribution in aligning customer needs with supply base capability is essential to sustaining our competitiveness and enabling future growth.”
As Velocity looks to the future, it also takes the opportunity to recognise and thank Matthew Archer, who had departed the business in July after serving as Chief Commercial & Compliance Officer. Matthew had joined the company in 2017 and had played a key role in shaping its commercial strategy, governance, and international expansion.
