American aerospace and defence specialists Northrop Grumman has appointed former British Ministry of Defence procurement boss Andrew Tyler as the company's chief executive for the UK and Europe.
Tyler, who will take up his post from July, arrives from energy company Siemens’ Marine Current Turbines unit, having joined the German giant in 2011 after leaving his post as as the chief operating officer of MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support organisation.
He announced his resignation from Siemens at the end of last year, where he managed the transition of MCT from an R&D technology-based operation to become a product-based OEM.
It’s the first time Northrop Grumman has had a chief executive to oversee its UK and European operations, and signals a renewed effort by the US defense company to boost its presence here.
Sir Nigel Essenhigh was previously the senior British-based executive as non-executive chairman of the UK operation, but was not replaced following his departure in 2011.
A Northrop Grumman spokesman said Tyler’s initial focus in his new role would be focused on the UK operation, with no immediate restructuring implications arising from the appointment.
