Operational management team
Dick Elsy - Chief Executive Officer
Prior to joining Torotrak in 2003, Dick was part of the leadership team at Jaguar Cars Limited that drove Jaguar's growth plans. He has a proven track record in getting new products and technology from concept readiness through the implementation phase to production readiness and on to market launch.
As Product Development Director at Jaguar he launched the X-TYPE, the new Jaguar S-TYPE (2002) and delivered the new aluminium body construction technology, which was deployed in the XJ saloon and which now features in the latest Jaguar models . As Project Director at Land Rover he was responsible for the delivery of the Freelander (1998) which introduced new patented technology, including hill descent control.
His previous senior roles at Jaguar, Land Rover and BMW mean that he has a detailed understanding of the intricate links at top levels between car manufacturers and their tier-1 suppliers as well as the competitive pressures facing car manufacturers in bringing new technology to market.
Following the company's restructure in early 2011, Dick leads all engineering activites, in addition to his role as CEO.
Jeremy Deering - Finance Director
In addition to his roles of Financial Director and Company Secretary, Jeremy Deering leads Torotrak's commercial and marketing activities. He was appointed a Director in December 2006. He has held senior finance and commercial positions in FTSE 100 groups including Tomkins plc and the United Utilities Group where he became Group Financial Controller and later Finance Director of its then major energy division, Norweb plc, following its take-over. He was acting Managing Director of Your Communications through its intended IPO. He subsequently worked with companies in the small to mid-sized sectors involving turnaround or re-financing including, in an interim director capacity, System C Healthcare plc through its successful AIM flotation in 2005.
Rob Oliver - Product Director and Director - Product Development
Rob was appointed Director - Product Development in February 2011. In addition to managing Torotrak's product development and test capability, he is responsible for all site operations, including procurement and material control, rig and testing hardware, quality, site services and building maintenance. His role also encompasses key project responsibilities for major Torotrak programmes in the automotive, off-highway and OPE markets.
A Torotrak employee since 1999, between 2008 and January 2011 Rob held the role of Chief Operating Officer of Infinitrak LLC (Torotrak's joint venture with MTD Holdings Inc). Prior to this Rob was Vice President of Engineering for Infinitrak and led the development and introduction of the first Infinitrak transmission.
Before joining Torotrak he was employed by Massey Ferguson Tractors (part of the AGCO group) where he led vehicle test and development in the UK.
Steve Murray - Product Director and Director - Systems engineering
As "lead architect" for Torotrak's technology applications, Steve is responsible for matching customer requirements and needs with solutions. With responsibility for the system architecture and strategy and control, his role encompasses the whole system architecture of Torotrak's technology, taking customer inputs (external and internal) and developing layouts and concepts that meet these requirements. He also leads the company's commercial vehicle main drive transmission projects.
Steve joined Torotrak in 1997 as Powertrain Control Manager. He subsequently worked as Chief Engineer for Control Systems, General Manager of Engineering, Engineering Director and most recently Research and Development Director. He has been instrumental in many of the major developments in the full-toroidal traction drive technology within Torotrak over the last few years.
Steve gained an MEng in 1990 from Newcastle Polytechnic and an MSc in Engineering in 1994 from Loughborough University. Between 1990 and 1993 he was employed by the Ford Motor Company in research and product development roles.
Andrew De Freitas - Product Director and Director - Design
Appointed to the role of Director - Design in early 2011, Andrew is responsible for all design resources and leads Torotrak's engineering design function in order to meet the technical and timing needs of the programmes that the company is pursuing. Andrew is also responsible for all the Rotrak project activities, both internally within the Rotrak JV and externally with customers. In addition, he is project manager for the FHSPV mechanical hybrid project.
Andrew has worked for Torotrak since 1995, joining in the capacity of Design Engineer, being promoted to Principal Engineer in 2000 and becoming Design Group Leader in 2004. He has been responsible for the conception and design of variator and transmission arrangements for numerous applications.
He followed a Dowty Group sponsored education in Mechanical and Production Engineering, culminating in an analysis role at Dowty Mining Equipment.