Will Butler-Adams

Will Butler-Adams is a highly respected keynote speaker, engineer and business leader, best known as Group CEO of Brompton Bicycle Ltd and a Chartered Engineer with a career rooted in manufacturing excellence. He is widely recognised for leading one of the UK’s most successful modern industrial growth stories, taking Brompton from a small specialist manufacturer into a globally admired brand. One of his biggest achievement remains guiding the company’s long-term expansion while protecting its London manufacturing base, product quality and strong sense of purpose. 

Will’s early career laid the foundations for his approach to leadership and innovation. After achieving First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Newcastle, he began his professional journey in large-scale industrial environments, including Nissan, ICI and DuPont. These roles exposed him to complex production systems, capital investment and safety-critical operations. As Plant Manager at DuPont, Will was responsible for a £60 million polyester facility, delivering record production volumes while reducing costs and improving reliability. These formative experiences instilled a deep respect for engineering rigour, disciplined management and the value of empowering people closest to the work, principles that continue to underpin his leadership philosophy.

Will joined Brompton in 2002 and quickly became central to its transformation. He progressed to Director in 2006 before becoming CEO in 2008, leading sustained growth over more than a decade. During his tenure, Brompton grew from £2 million turnover with 27 employees to more than £130 million with over 750 staff, exporting the majority of its bikes to more than 40 countries. Will oversaw major advances in lean manufacturing, digital systems, global distribution and product innovation, all while retaining UK production. His achievements have been recognised with multiple honours, including the Queen’s Award for Export and Innovation, the Prince Philip Designers Prize, and his appointment as an OBE for services to industry. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and holds an Honorary Doctorate from Imperial College London.

As a keynote speaker, Will is valued for his ability to connect engineering thinking with leadership, culture and long-term business success. He speaks on manufacturing growth, innovation, skills, education and responsible capitalism, drawing on real decisions rather than theory. Will is also deeply committed to education, serving as a trustee, commissioner and visiting lecturer, and frequently speaks about preparing the next generation of engineers and leaders. Organisations hire Will because he combines technical credibility with human insight, offering practical lessons that resonate well beyond manufacturing and leave audiences inspired to think differently about leadership and progress.