Directors' Biographies

 
D J Turner

D J Turner
Independent Non-executive Chairman

Appointed to the Board as Non-executive Deputy Chairman in 2007, David Turner took over as Chairman in May 2008. He is a Chartered Accountant aged 64, and is also a Non-executive Director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He was previously Chief Executive at Brambles Industries Limited between 2003 and 2007 and Finance Director at the same company between 2001 and 2003. Prior to that he was Group Finance Director at GKN plc from 1994. He was a Non-executive Director of Whitbread plc until 2006. He is Chairman of the nomination committee and a member of the remuneration committee.

J F Devaney

J F Devaney
Independent Non-executive Director and Chairman designate

Appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director from February 2010, John Devaney, aged 62 will be appointed Non-executive Chairman at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting in May 2010. He is Non-executive Chairman of the National Air Traffic Services and Chairman of National Express plc. He was previously a Non-Executive Director of Northern Rock and Chairman of Marconi, later renamed Telent. Prior to this he was executive President of Perkins Engines and Kelsey-Hayes before becoming Chief Executive of Eastern Electricity. He then became Chairman, following the acquisition by Hanson. He is a member of the nomination and remuneration committees.

Andy Stevens

A J Stevens BSc, CEng, FIET, FRAeS
Chief Executive Officer

Appointed to the Board in 2003, Andy Stevens, age 52, joined the Group as Managing Director of the Aerospace Systems Group. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2005 responsible for operational management, performance and profit and loss accountability for the Group. Andy Stevens became Chief Executive Officer with effect from January 2010. Prior to joining Cobham he qualified as a chartered engineer at Dowty Group and subsequently became Chief Operating Officer of Messier Dowty International before joining Rolls Royce as Managing Director, Defence Aerospace.

 
Warren Tucker

W G Tucker BSc, ACA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer

Appointed to the Board in 2003, Warren Tucker, age 46, joined the Group as Group Financial Director. Prior to joining he qualified as a chartered accountant, worked at Lazard, held senior finance positions at British Airways plc and was Deputy Group Financial Director of Cable and Wireless plc.

Marcus Beresford

M Beresford CBE, MAMechSc, FIEE
Independent Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director, Marcus Beresford, age 66, was Chairman of Ricardo plc until November 2009 and was a Non-Executive Director of Spirent PLC until late 2006. He was an Executive Director of GKN plc from 1992-2002 and Chief Executive from 2001-2002. He is the Senior Independent Director and is a member of the nomination, audit and remuneration committees.

 
 
General M W Hagee

General M W Hagee
Independent Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board as Non-executive Director in December 2008, Michael Hagee, aged 64, was, until his retirement in January 2007, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the 33rd Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Prior to that he was the Commanding General of the Ist Marine Expeditionary Force. In total, he served in the US military for more than 43 years and holds numerous military, civilian, and foreign decorations, including the Bronze Star with Valor, National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and Defense Distinguished Service Medal. He is currently a Non-executive Director of Rackable Systems, IAP Worldwide Services Inc. He is a member of the nomination, audit and remuneration committees.

 
Peter Hooley

P Hooley FCA, MSc
Independent Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in 2002, Peter Hooley, who is a chartered accountant, is aged 62 and was Group Finance Director of Smith & Nephew plc until mid-2006. In July 2006 he was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of BSN Medical Luxembourg Holdings Sarl a group engaged in medical textile products. Previously he was a Non-Executive Director of Powell Duffryn plc from 1997 to 2000. He is Chairman of the audit committee and also a member of the nomination and remuneration committees.

 
Dr J Patterson

J S Patterson CBE, MBChB, FRCP, Fmed Sci
Independent Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in 2005, John Patterson, age 61, qualified in medicine in 1971 and obtained a Membership (now Fellowship) of the Royal College of Physicians in 1974. He was appointed as a Non-executive Director of Ferring Holding SA in April 2009. He joined ICI (now AstraZeneca) in 1975 and in December 2004 John was appointed to the main Board as Executive Director responsible for development. He retired as a director of the firm in March 2009. He is a former President of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, a former Non-executive Director of Amersham PLC and a former member of the Supervisory Board of the UK Medicines Control Agency. He is Chairman of the remuneration committee and a member of the nomination and audit committees.

 
Mark Ronald CBE

M H Ronald CBE, BA, BScEE, MScEE
Independent Non-executive Director

Appointed to the Board as a Non-executive Director in 2007, Mark Ronald, age 67, was, until his retirement at the end of 2006, Chief Operating Officer of BAE Systems plc and Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems Inc, its wholly-owned US subsidiary. Previously he was Vice-President, Program Management with Litton Industries and Chief Operating Officer of AEL Industries. He is currently a Non-executive Director of ATK Inc and DynCorp International Inc. He is a Senior Adviser of Veritas Capital LLC and a Management Consultant. He is a member of the nomination and remuneration committees.