BAE Systems has promoted, Ian King, its chief operating officer to the chief executive position at the aeropace giant.

King, a qualified accountant, was FD of Marconi Electronic Systems for six years leading up to BAE Systems’ merger with the company. He was then promoted to group strategy and planning director responsible for group strategy, budgets and transactions activity.

‘He is a highly experienced business leader with a proven track record in our key home markets. His performance focus and depth of knowledge of the global defence industry will benefit the continued progression of the successful strategy that has been pursued by the company during the course of Mike Turner's leadership,' said chairman Dick Olver.

However, his appointment surprised some analysts who thought the pressure was on for BAE Systems to appoint an external candidate following the US Justice Department's investigation into the weapons deals with Saudi Arabia. Turner and non executive director and charted accountant Sir Nigel Rudd were stopped last month by investigators as they entered the US with Turner’s phone and computer gear seized.

Olver said BAE had interviewed `’a number of people from a number of places around the world’' and was confident it had chosen the right man for the job. BAE is believed to have short-listed two Americans and three Europeans for the post.

Further Reading:

Bloomberg

The Times