Dr Chris McArdle PhD MBA BSc(Hons) MAE QDR MCIArb MIoD CEng FIEE

Chris has over 25 years experience in the electronics industry.  Originally a designer of IT & Communications products and integrated circuits for a range of blue-chip companies including Honeywell and McDonnell Douglas, he spent 9 years as Director of Digital Engineering at Plextek, one of the UK’s premier electronic design consultancies, and as Technical Director of a Far-East high-volume electronic manufacturing business, prior to setting up Innotec Ltd in 1999 and becoming its Managing Director.

Chris has been responsible for the design and introduction to volume manufacture of an extremely wide range of electronic, microelectronic, IT, software and ASIC products for companies throughout the world - particularly in the Far East and the U.S.A.  Chris has significant experience in application areas as diverse as consumer, automotive, defence, communications, entertainment, multimedia, security and white-goods.  He also has experience of forming and directing successful international joint-venture companies involved in high-volume telecommunications, security and consumer products.

Just a few of the electronics companies with which Chris has worked include Hewlett Packard, NTT, Olivetti, LSI Logic, Rockwell, Fujitsu, Nortel, DERA, QinetiQ, Micron, Vibtech, Patientline, LG, BICC, Marconi, Ultra Electronics, Tracker, BT, Maxon, ST Microelectronics, TWI, Unico Technology, Team Concepts, Quintel, and Daewoo.  Chris has also worked with numerous government organisations such as The Department of Trade and Industry, UK Trade & Investment, Invest Northern Ireland, The European Commission, and the Home Office as well as British Embassies throughout the Far East, UK Universities, and a wide range of law firms and financial organisations.

Chris is a UK Department of Trade & Industry advisor and grant-assessor in Microelectronics, Nanotechnology and Software Security, and a member of the funding assessment panel of the European Commission. 

Chris has undertaken due diligence investigations, strategic appraisals and corporate restructuring assignments for a wide range of companies in the electronics, microelectronics, electronic component and consumer electronics industries, on behalf of venture capital companies and investment institutions.  Some examples of Chris’ experience in technical due diligence include:

• Analysis of technology, manufacturing and business plans for a very wide range (over 200) companies as a business and technology advisor to the DTI Electronics Design programme.  Products range from simple electro-mechanical to complex microelectronic products.
• Grant assessment for the DTI’s Micro/Nanotechnology Initiative and Technology Programme
• Strategic evaluation and development of a multi-billion pound joint-venture in the provision of mobile telecommunications infrastructure.
• Analysis of technology and business plan of a company involved in the design of a high-speed serial bus system for incorporation in ASIC and custom microelectronic devices.
• Negotiation of price and terms of a potential buy-out of part of a major telecommunications company on behalf of a company based in the Far East.
• Analysis of technology and business plan of a fab-less chip company involved in the design and manufacture of a range of mixed-signal integrated-circuit (IC) devices for analogue and digital signal processing for high-volume consumer electronics products.
• Analysis of technology, manufacturing & business plan of a company involved in RF tagging.
• Analysis of technology, manufacturing & business plan of a company involved in high-speed internet server technology (software & hardware).
• Review of business plans of companies planning to relocate electronics manufacturing facilities
• Evaluation of the technology and advice regarding the packaging of the electronics contained in an industrial tool

Chris has also undertaken expert witness assignments through major law firms in Europe, the United States and the Far East, and has been involved in some of the largest cases brought before the courts.  He has provided expert testimony in a wide range of cases and has significant courtroom experience.

Chris is Fellow of The Institution of Electrical Engineers, a member of the IET President's List and is a Member of the Institute of Directors. He holds a PhD in Microelectronics, a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a BSc in Computer Engineering. Chris is a member of the Academy of Experts and The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a qualified and experienced Commercial Mediator.

Chris’ pro-bono activity includes sitting on the IEE IT Sector Panel and the DTI’s Electronics Leadership Council as well as chairing the Electronics Design and Innovation Group (EDIG) within Intellect. Formerly he was a board member of the Semiconductor Businesses Association and the Asia Pacific Electronics Business Association.