SHEFFIELD, UK — The Institution of Mechanical Engineers appointed Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Chris Kirby as the new general manager for its Sheffield-based non-destructive testing (NDT) and corrosion inspection training business, Engineering Training Solutions (ETS).

The Institution acquired Argyll-Ruane Ltd in 2012 and subsequently added the IMechE ETS corporate branding. The business has been enjoying a period of rejuvenation and resurgent growth in the last six months and is now showing 25% year-on-year growth in the UK. It has also opened a training centre in the Gulf region and invested in customer service, state-of-the-art NDT equipment and online learning.

Kirby has a background in NDT. He founded his own business, NDT Solutions, and built it into a world leader in advanced ultrasonic testing equipment, with clients including Airbus, Boeing, Ford and Volvo, before selling it in 2005. He has subsequently been involved in spin-outs from the University of Sheffield, including Magnomatics Ltd, which he grew to 30 employees. He has a BSc (Hons) degree in electronics and computer science from Keele University and is a Chartered Electrical Engineer. He is also a guest lecturer in entrepreneurism at the University of Sheffield.