MIRA CEO Awarded OBE in New Year Honours List

Dr. George Gillespie, CEO at Midlands-based MIRA Ltd. – a world-leader in advanced vehicle engineering, research and product testing – has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Dr. Gillespie has been awarded the Honour for his services to International Trade, following his continued commitment to building business overseas. Having accompanied Prime Minister, David Cameron, on a trade visit to China in December 2013, Dr. Gillespie has visited Japan, India and China – amongst other countries – during 2014 in a bid to build long-term business relationships between international markets and the UK.

Since joining MIRA as CEO in 2009, Dr Gillespie has led the turnaround in MIRA’s fortunes, with 45% growth in the business in the last two years alone. MIRA’s 2013 financial results also showed a 46% increase in turnover at MIRA Technology Park – reflecting the businesses continued success in the international market.

Over the last five years, Dr. Gillespie has worked to expand MIRA’s overseas operations, and – during 2013 – MIRA’s international order intake exceeded 22 per cent for the first time in the company’s history, which was largely buoyed by increasing success of MIRA’s engineering operations in China, Korea and Brazil. MIRA’s overseas footprint remains a key focus in the coming years, with target markets of Japan, Turkey and Germany.

Dr George Gillespie OBE said: 

“I am incredibly honoured to accept this award from Her Majesty the Queen, which not only recognises my personal commitment in this field, but also that of MIRA – an organisation I am incredibly proud to be a part of.

“The work we – as MIRA – have been doing overseas over the last two to three years has been extremely fruitful, and we’re looking forward to further growing our recent investments in overseas operations and continuing to open up international business opportunities in the coming years.

“In addition MIRA Technology Park is rapidly becoming a magnet for overseas transportation companies seeking to establish a European R&D base. We have added new international tenants from Germany, Sweden, USA, India and Japan in the last three years, all bringing high quality job opportunities and investment to the UK.”

Also awarded in the Queen’s New Year Honours list is MIRA board-member David Waller, who becomes an MBE. Mr Waller, chairman at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, received the award for services to business and community in the West Midlands.