A FRENCH physicist is the new managing director of Burnley’s biggest private sector employer.

Stéphane Cueille said he was looking forward to getting to know his 900 staff at Aircelle and the town better.

The 40-year-old is an engineering graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics.

He said: “I’m really delighted to be joining the Burnley team. The site is highly attractive as able, in a single location, to build such a complex product from A to Z and deliver it to the final customer.

“I’m very much looking forward to getting acquainted with my new colleagues, the business and its suppliers, and of course the town of Burnley.”

As a military engineer, he was seconded by the French General Agency for Armament to Safran from 1998 to 2001, where he was R&T project manager in the field of thermo-structural composite materials.

Mr Cueille then held different roles within the DGA, related to aircraft engines, missiles and satellites, and cooperation with the UK Ministry of Defence.

He joined Safran in September 2008 as foundry quality improvement project manager in Gennevilliers, France, before moving to the company’s military engines division in December 2008 as manager of the Military Engine Repairs Department – supporting French and export customers.

In 2010, Mr Cueille assumed leadership of the Turbine Airfoils Centre of Excellence at Safran, in the position of general manager, supervising design and operations, with production units in France, China and Mexico, as well as a global external supply-chain.

He will report directly to CEO Vincent Mascré who said: “Stéphane brings extensive experience in jet engine engineering. His expertise will be valuable as Aircelle positions itself as an industry leader in integrated propulsion systems.

“Of particular importance, his international profile will be an advantage for our Burnley business unit development.”

Aircelle is the world's leading nacelle manufacturer for airliners, including the Airbus A380.