Our leadership

Skills and experience:

I joined the Board in March 2020. During my executive career, I was CEO of Diploma PLC, the FTSE 250 specialised technical products and services business, for over twenty years. Prior to joining Diploma, I was a director with the technology and management consulting firm Arthur D. Little Inc., both in the UK and the USA. I am currently the Chair of discoverIE Group plc.

Skills and experience:

I was appointed as CEO in January 2023. Prior to this role I spent 3 years as Group CFO at Ultra Electronics plc, utilising my skills and experience from my time as Group CFO at Castrol Lubricants. I also spent 7 years at GKN plc in various roles including Group CFO and Director of Corporate Finance & Strategy. I started my career as a qualified solicitor and held in-house legal and M&A roles at ICI plc, AkzoNobel N.V. and GKN plc.

Skills and experience:

I was appointed as CFO in April 2022. Before joining Avon Protection, I was President, Strategy and Corporate Development for Ultra Electronics Holdings plc since June 2019. Prior to this I was Group Head of Investor Relations and, subsequently, a divisional Finance Director for Meggitt PLC and have held a number of investment and finance roles at Rolls-Royce plc and UBS AG.

Skills and experience:

I joined the Board in May 2020. I have been Group Finance Director of Senior plc, a manufacturer for the aerospace, defence, land vehicle and power & energy markets, since July 2017, having served as an Executive Director since May 2017. I joined Senior in 2006 as Group Financial Controller before becoming Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications in 2014. Prior to joining Senior, I held senior finance roles at Amersham plc and General Electric, having previously worked with BDO Stoy Hayward.

Skills and experience:

I have over 30 years of experience in the defence and security sectors. My early career focused on telecommunications and software before joining Thales UK in 1999. I was appointed Chief Executive in 2011, retiring in 2020 having successfully integrated and grown the business during this period. In recognition of my services to defence and security for the U.K. and France, I was appointed a CBE in 2015 and a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur in 2020.

Skills and experience:

I am the Co-founder and CEO of EOS, a specialist provider of deal advisory services. Prior to founding EOS, I was Head of UK Transaction Services at KPMG where I also served as a Board member, chairing the Audit Committee and sitting on the Risk and Remuneration Committees.

Skills and experience:

I am a qualified solicitor, having joined the group in January 2004 and have been a member of the Group Executive management team since 2008. I also have responsibility for all Group HR matters and am the Chairman of the Avon Protection Retirement and Death Benefits Plan. Prior to joining Avon, I was a solicitor with Osborne Clarke LLP.

I was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in January 2023. Prior to this role I spent 3 years as Group Chief Financial Officer at Ultra Electronics plc, utilising my skills and experience from my time as Group CFO at Castrol Lubricants. I also spent 7 years at GKN plc in various roles including Group CFO and Director of Corporate Finance & Strategy. I started my career as a qualified solicitor and held in-house legal and M&A roles at ICI plc, AkzoNobel N.V. and GKN plc.

I was appointed as CFO in April 2022. Before joining Avon Protection, I was President, Strategy and Corporate Development for Ultra Electronics Holdings plc since June 2019. Prior to this I was Group Head of Investor Relations and, subsequently, a divisional Finance Director for Meggitt PLC and have held a number of investment and finance roles at Rolls-Royce plc and UBS AG. 

I am a qualified solicitor, having joined the group in January 2004 and have been a member of the Group Executive management team since 2008. I also have responsibility for all Group HR matters and am the Chairman of the Avon Protection Retirement and Death Benefits Plan. Prior to joining Avon, I was a solicitor with Osborne Clarke LLP.

Prior to my appointment as President, Avon Protection in March 2023, I held the role of Vice President, U.K. & International for 2 years. I joined Avon Protection from Teledyne Technologies where I was Vice-President and General Manager for the RF Power organisation, providing strategic and operational leadership of the business across its global footprint. Prior to my role in Teledyne, I worked in a variety of strategic and business leadership roles at both QinetiQ and BAE Systems where I developed new and innovative approaches to business growth as well as delivering on major international campaigns.

Prior to my appointment as President, Team Wendy in 2023, I was Chief Technical Officer and a member of the Group Executive management team. I joined the Group in 2003 and have held several roles overseeing Engineering, Marketing, Business Development & Sales and Product Category Management. Prior to my time at Avon, I worked at Dyson Ltd, responsible for new product development and transfer to overseas operations.

I was appointed as President, Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement in March 2023. Before joining the team, I held multiple operations leadership roles and built over 25 years of lean manufacturing and operations management experience, most recently in Smith + Nephew where I was responsible for operations across sixteen plants. Prior to this, I was at Ultra Electronics, responsible for implementing excellence programmes that are designed to be aligned with business capacity and capability.