Directors
John Wood
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
BTecH, MDES, FIEHF, FRSA, EurErg, BCPE(US)
With two other partners, John founded CCD in 1977 with the express purpose of offering practical, professional ergonomic services in conjunction with design. As Managing Director, John has grown the Company from those early days into one of Europe's leading ergonomics and design consultancies employing ergonomists, occupational psychologists, product designers and interior designers. John has now moved into the new role of Executive Chairman to promote the company and lead its future strategy.
In addition to his consultancy work, John is a leading practitioner in the development of standards. John chairs the ISO team authoring ISO 11064 "Ergonomic Design of Control Centres". John also contributes to UK and International standards on CCTV and societal security.
David Watts
MANAGING DIRECTOR
BSc, MSc, MIEHF, MIoD
David joined CCD as a graduate in 1996 with a degree in Ergonomics and Human Computer Interaction. He has delivered projects in a variety of sectors including rail, oil & gas, public sector, utilities and the emergency services. David acted as Human Factors Manager to the NMC project for Railtrack and for Department for Communities & Local Government on FiReControl. He has worked with clients such as Network Rail, Siemens, PA Consulting, easyJet, CTRL, Carillion, Schlumberger, Metropolitan Police, National Express and is currently managing CCD's work for ITER.
He was made a Director of the firm in 2002 and currently heads the area of the business delivering to Urban Transportation clients. David also manages the company's human resources as well as safety, quality and the environment.
Mike Stearn
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR 
BSc, FIEHF
Mike graduated in Ergonomics from Loughborough University in 1982. Having undertaken research into the design of car interiors, Mike joined ICE Ergonomics where he worked on a secondment to DCA Design being responsible for human factors aspects of the Channel Tunnel Shuttle Trains. Mike subsequently worked on projects such as the design of the MTRC AEL/LAL airport train, the design of the Brussels Tramway 2000 saloon and cab, design of the first class saloon for the Heathrow Express and design of capacity saloons for Dockland Light Railway.
Mike joined CCD in 1997 with responsibilities for growing the railway business and developing CCD's core expertise in 24/7 safety critical Control Centre design into the railway environment. Mike's first major mainline railway project with CCD was the design of the York IECC and he was subsequently part of the CCD team who set up CCD's involvement with the WCRM NMC project: one of, if not the largest HF project on the UK railway system. Mike is a Fellow of the Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors.
Mike is CCD's Commercial Director with responsibility for sales and the commercial management of our work. He also leads many of our technical projects as a professional Ergonomist.
Martin Freer
ergonomics director
BSc
Martin graduated from Loughborough University in 1986 with a degree in ergonomics and worked at the Army Personnel Research Establishment on sighting systems, crew station design and crew task analysis projects for military vehicles. He then worked for 15 years at SAMMIE CAD Ltd. on over 350 consultancy projects, which included train cab and saloon design, manual handling risk assessment, workstation and control room design and evaluation, standards development, vehicle design and assessment, health & safety assessments, inclusive design and HCI projects. Martin remains a leading world expert in the use of the SAMMIE human modelling system.
Since joining CCD in 2002 as an Associate Director, Martin has worked on projects involving motorway control rooms, Automatic Traffic Management control systems for the Highways Agency, railway signalling control centres, air traffic control towers and control centres, human computer interfaces and CCTV control systems, dockyard crane cabs and manual handling assessments of airport baggage handling.
Martin was made a Director in 2007 with primary responsibility for leading CCD's aviation, road transport and energy related projects.
Mike Clark
Design Director
Mike trained in the heavy engineering industry and then worked on such diverse projects as underwater weapon systems and major electrical programmes for London Underground. Mike has been responsible for major projects in the rail and aviation-air traffic control, blending practical design with ergonomics experience and engineering skills.
Mike has worked on rail-related programmes since the mid 1980s that include:
- Station Control Point design for London Underground
- Line Control Point design for London Underground
- Lever frame/Panel Signal Box upgrade design for Railtrack
- Project team member WCRM NMC
- Heathrow Express Tunnel Control Centre design for BAA
- Design of Signaller workstations for York IECC
- Design of WARM Team Leader workstations in Liverpool Street IECC
In addition to railway project experience, Mike has also worked on over 100 Control Room design projects worldwide including:
- Air traffic control maps
- Workstation design
- Consumer product designs