IoD Wales Member Spotlight – Monthly Feature

Member Name: Simon Pritchard

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer

Company Name: Philtronics Limited (also Chair, Manufacturing Wales)

1. Tell us a bit about yourself — what do you do, and what’s your journey been like as a business leader?

I’m CEO of Philtronics Limited, a precision electronics manufacturer based on the Hirwaun Industrial Estate in the Cynon Valley. We deliver full turnkey contract manufacturing—from design support and prototyping through to production, test, and fulfilment—for global partners in the semiconductor, defence, medtech, and other high-reliability sectors. Today the business employs around 100 people.

My path into leadership was not linear. I started in purchasing and project management in the fast-paced European gaming industry (JPM, Astra Games/Novomatic), learning how large OEMs manage cost, quality, speed, and supply chains. In the early 2000s, seeing skilled people leave the local industrial estate with few opportunities (including my own father), I left a secure role and started Philtronics from our living room in Hirwaun—named after my dad, Phil. That dual perspective—having looked down the supply chain as a major customer and then building from the micro-SME floor—has shaped how I run the company and why I’m often asked to represent smaller and medium-sized manufacturers. Since 2023/2025 I have also chaired Manufacturing Wales, focusing on collaboration, brand recognition, supply-chain resilience, and skills across the sector.

2. What achievement or milestone are you most proud of in your career so far?

Building Philtronics from a living-room start-up into a recognised, high-reliability manufacturer that holds its own with global partners. A clear highlight was receiving the KLA Special Contribution Award in October 2024 at their Supplier Day in San Francisco—for partnership, technical support, innovation, and growth. Standing on that stage as a Valleys-based medium-sized manufacturer felt like validation of the dual-lens approach we have taken from the start.

Equally meaningful is the work on skills and people: the Philtronics Academy, apprenticeships, and our deliberate focus on developing talent (including a 50/50 gender balance in the workforce and management). This was recognised with the IoD Director of the Year – Skills Development award in 2026, alongside Make UK recognition for the business and for developing future talent. I am also proud of the community side—supporting Velindre Cancer Centre, Action for Children, Ospreys in the Community, and team cycling challenges—because leadership should extend beyond the factory gate.

3. What advice would you give to other directors striving for excellence in leadership?

A few lessons that have stayed with me:

Real strength doesn’t need to shout. My early rugby mentor / coach, Dai Morris (“The Shadow”), was one of the finest back-row forwards of his era yet managed his ego completely quiet, generous, and grounded. That example taught me more than any formal training.

Surround yourself with good people and remember that we are all a mentor for someone—so actively help the person coming up behind you. Skills and collaboration are often the real competitive advantages, especially for SMEs.

Relationships compound faster than any process. Long-term partnerships beat short-term wins.

The dual lens is powerful: understand both the pressures of the large OEM customer and the realities of the smaller supplier. That combination improves decision-making on cost, quality, delivery, and resilience.

Focus on sustainable growth and the next generation of talent—the biggest constraint for most manufacturers is rarely capital; it is skilled people who stay and develop.

4. How has your involvement with the IoD supported your professional journey?

I have been active with the IoD alongside other industry bodies such as Make UK and the CBI. The network has provided valuable connections with fellow directors across Wales and opportunities to share and learn from different sector experiences. Being recognised as IoD Director of the Year – Skills Development in 2026 was a particular highlight; it both validated the work we have done on apprenticeships, the Philtronics Academy, and talent development, and gave a useful platform to talk about the skills challenges and opportunities facing Welsh manufacturing. The broader engagement has also reinforced the collaborative approach I try to take as Chair of Manufacturing Wales—connecting businesses, sharing knowledge, and advocating for the sector.

Check back next month as we continue to celebrate the outstanding leaders shaping the future of Welsh business.