Cambridge, UK — 7 September 2026 — DeepForm, the Cambridge-based engineering company pioneering a low-waste, low-emission approach to sheet metal pressing, today announced a new leadership structure, effective 1 September 2026.
Chris Cleaver, who founded DeepForm out of the University of Cambridge in 2022, returns as Chief Executive Officer. Cleaver led the company as Chief Executive until May 2026, when for health reasons he stepped across temporarily to a role focused on customer delivery and core technology, and Paul Heard took on the Chief Executive position. Cleaver now resumes leadership of the executive team and the company’s technology development.
Paul Heard becomes Executive Chair, leading the board with a focus on DeepForm’s wider strategy and commercial growth. Heard was formerly Chief Executive of a tier-one Japanese automotive parts manufacturer, one of the world’s most respected names in press and weld production.
Richard Green steps down as Chairman, having chaired DeepForm since the company was founded. He continues to support the business as an advisor.
The changes follow a year of significant progress. DeepForm’s first component enters full-scale production with Jaguar Land Rover later this year and tooling programmes continue with Volvo Group. In October the company begins DeepForm for Trucks with Volvo Trucks Technology & Industrial and Whiston Industries, supported by the UK Government’s DRIVE35 programme. Beyond automotive, DeepForm is in early conversations in beverage can and white goods manufacturing.
Chris Cleaver, Chief Executive Officer, said:
“When we spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2022, fold-flow pressing was a laboratory result. It is now a production technology, and the pull we are seeing from major manufacturers reflects that. I am glad to be taking the company into its next stage with Paul overseeing the board and providing hands on expertise on the commercial side.
“Stepping back in May was the right call at the time, and I am grateful to Paul and the team for how they carried things while I was dealing with a health issue. I am glad to be back.
“I also want to thank Richard properly. He has chaired DeepForm since the day it was founded, through the years when this was an idea, a very small team and a great deal of uncertainty. He gave us his time, his judgement and his belief when there was little evidence to go on, and he has been steady through every stage since. We owe him a great deal, and I am glad he stays close to us as an advisor and as a friend of the company.”
Paul Heard, Executive Chair, added:
“I joined DeepForm to put in place the commercial foundations of a company moving from proving a technology to selling one. That strategy is now set, and the right person to lead the next stage is the person who created the technology. As Executive Chair my focus is on our wider strategy and commercial growth, and on converting the demand we are now seeing. That demand is strongest in automotive today, but it is not confined to it. Beverage can and white goods manufacturers face the same waste in their pressing, we have some exciting new projects in these areas and those sectors will see further growth for our business.”
