Rolls-Royce is making changes to its Board and Executive Team with several people in new roles.
Helen McCabe will be joining the Board of Rolls-Royce later this year as Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in senior finance and performance management roles within complex multinational engineering organisations. Current CFO Panos Kakoullis is to stay in post until the end of August.
She is currently Senior Vice President, Finance for the Customer & Products division of BP, which runs the company’s customer-focused business which reported EBITDA of $13.7bn last year. The exact date on which she will take up her new executive role and position on the Board of Rolls-Royce will be announced later.
Chief Exec Tufan Erginbilgic said: “I look forward to welcoming Helen to my leadership team. Her track record of promoting rigorous financial discipline and experience of delivering performance management to achieve dramatic improvements will be invaluable as we move, at pace, to transform Rolls-Royce.”
Rob Watson has been appointed as President – Civil Aerospace with immediate effect. Rob joined the Executive Team last year as President – Rolls-Royce Electrical. He has been with Rolls-Royce for 13 years and previously held leadership positions in Defence aerospace as well as working as Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive.
As previously announced, Chris Cholerton is moving from his position as President – Civil Aerospace to become Group President, having successfully led the Civil Aerospace business through some of the greatest challenges in its history. As part of this role, Chris will take on executive responsibility for the Group’s nuclear operations. This includes Rolls-Royce Submarines, and the role of Interim CEO of Rolls-Royce SMR while a search is conducted for a successor to Tom Samson who, it has been agreed, will be leaving with immediate effect.
Adam Riddle has been appointed President – Defence, and Chairman & CEO – Rolls-Royce North America with immediate effect. Adam has spent nearly a decade in Defence and played a pivotal role in the recent success of the division in clinching key contracts which will generate multi-year returns.
Mr Erginbilgic added: “I would like to congratulate both Rob and Adam as they take up their new roles. Both are highly experienced leaders and will bring renewed energy and a determination to succeed to Civil Aerospace and Defence. Their appointments are also evidence of the pipeline of senior talent which exists within Rolls-Royce. With the leadership changes announced today we are acting at pace and gaining the momentum we need to transform Rolls-Royce. Together, my leadership team has a winning mindset, strong strategic alignment and a shared ambition to make Rolls-Royce a company that delivers for all stakeholders.”
