BAE Systems plc. has announced the appointment of Charles Woodburn to the newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer.
Woodburn will report to chief executive, Ian King as an executive committee member and will be appointed to the BAE Systems plc Board as an executive director during Q2 2016.
Woodburn brings with him more than 20 years’ of international experience from the oil and gas industry, gained in a number of senior management positions.
A British citizen, he has held a number of senior management positions in the Far East; Australia; France and the US during a 15-year career at Schlumberger.
For the past five years, he has been CEO of Expro, an oilfield services business owned by a consortium including Goldman Sachs and Arle Capital Partners. He is a non-executive director of Seadrill Limited.
His operational experience has been built on a strong academic foundation having gained a First Class Honours Degree in Electrical Sciences and a PhD in Engineering from Cambridge University. He later completed an MBA at Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
Announcing the appointment, King commented: “As a highly qualified engineer with considerable international business experience, Charles will strengthen and broaden the strategic and operational capabilities of the business as a welcome and valuable addition to the leadership team.”
Chairman of BAE Systems plc, Sir Roger Carr added: “I am delighted that we have secured an individual of considerable talent and proven industrial experience as part of our succession planning programme.
“Charles will bring fresh perspective to the Company’s operations and Board, whilst building a detailed knowledge of the defence industry under the guidance of Ian King.”
Woodburn said: “BAE Systems is one of the world’s leading defence companies with a broad and diverse portfolio of products and services, supporting major government and commercial customers around the world.
“I look forward to contributing to the Company’s continued growth and development.”
