Our People | DSD | Drive System Design

In 2007 our founding directors formed the company with the intention of building a community of exceptional engineers to inspire and challenge the rapidly evolving transmissions industry. In the last 10 years the business has gone from strength to strength, with our UK technical centre now home to a team of over 80, and a growing team in the USA.

Hover or click on a member of our management team to find out more.

Mark Findlay

Managing Director, UK

John Morton

Engineering Director, UK

David Kelly

Director, UK

Gerald Andrews

Chairman, UK

Lee Sykes

Commercial Director, UK

Jon Brentnall

President, USA

Mark Findlay, Managing Director, UK

Mark holds a long track record of success in the transmission industry from both a technical and commercial background. With a wealth of technical experience generated over a huge variety of transmission projects in both consultancies and OEMs, rarely matched in the field of automotive transmissions. His continued exposure to the commercial aspects of the transmission industry has given him an unrivalled insight into its challenges and opportunities.

John Morton, Engineering Director, UK

John's design skills were honed in the design of transmissions for off-highway, mainstream automotive and motorsport vehicles: the latter contributing to three championship winning car designs. A hunger for innovation and technology, and a genuine passion for teamwork, was born during his time in motorsport. In his role as Engineering Director John brings responsive and highly focused processes to the engineering teams, promoting imaginative and efficient engineering solutions.

David Kelly, Director, UK

David is a simulation specialist with extensive experience create cutting-edge techniques in optimisation and simulation. His skills were developed in the design of automotive transmissions and also encompass the simulation of engine and vehicle systems. David helps Drive System Design to provide robust optimisation of any aspect of the design features, or functional characteristics, of a modern transmission. In his role as Director David is responsible for DSD’s future technology direction and research co-ordination.

Gerald Andrews, Chairman, UK

Gerald’s career has spanned all aspects of engineering from product development to manufacturing and niche product supply. He has built and led high performing teams responsible for transmissions and drivelines in iconic vehicles such as the Bugatti Veyron, Ford GT and the all-conquering Audi Race 8. On the commercial side he has successfully grown businesses under private and listed company ownership. In addition Gerald served as an executive on the board of Ricardo plc. Gerald joined Drive System Design as Chairman in September 2017.

Lee Sykes, Commercial Director, UK

After graduating from the University of Manchester with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Lee’s initial career covered vehicle and powertrain system CAE and CFD at a UK vehicle manufacturer. Over the last 20+ years, Lee has held senior technical and commercial leadership roles in global consulting engineering businesses, focusing on transmission, driveline and powertrain system integration. During this time, Lee has overseen production engineering programmes including BMW Mini powertrain, a Chinese 8AT and Electric Drive Unit, and the Bugatti Veyron DCT. Lee’s international outlook came to the fore in a successful stint as President of a Shanghai-based operation. Having joined Drive System Design as Commercial Director in February 2018, Lee is applying his customer-focused approach to help grow and diversify the business, whilst ‘rolling up his sleeves’ to support the DSD engineering teams in major programmes delivery.

Jon Brentnall, President, USA

Jon has worked in the field of transmission engineering for over 17 years, stemming from a Masters Degree specialising in gear design. As Chief Engineer at an international consultancy, he led programs covering transmissions, e-drive transaxles and rear-axles, power-split electrical hybrid transmissions, CVT (wind-turbine) transmissions and dynamic modelling of shift systems. Jon was also a lead engineer working for DaimlerChrysler in its hybrid joint venture with GM and BMW. He has supported several programs with patented inventions and is actively growing DSD’s capabilities in transmission development for automotive, commercial truck and aerospace programs in North America.