12 February 2024 | 1 minute read

AWE appoints Nick Elliott as CEO

AWE Plc has appointed Nick Elliott CB MBE as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with effect from 4 March 2024.

Nick is currently the UK Chair of Helsing, a security and artificial intelligence company. He is an experienced senior business leader, having led major delivery organisations in defence, infrastructure, and government – including the UK Vaccine Taskforce where he was Director General during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sir John Manzoni, Chair of AWE Plc, said: “An extensive and rigorous recruitment process identified Nick as a leader with unique capabilities and experience who will drive our transformation and allow us to deliver our mission – to keep the country safe.”

Previously, Nick was the Commercial Director and Deputy CEO of Defence Equipment & Support, the professional acquisition and support organisation of the Ministry of Defence. He has been responsible for delivering some of the biggest rail infrastructure projects in the UK, and has served as a non-executive director on the Board of the Submarine Delivery Agency, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and as a Council Member of the Rail Supply Group.

Nick Elliott said: “It is a great privilege to have been selected to lead AWE as its new CEO. This is an organisation of critical national importance, and I am extremely proud to be joining at such a significant stage in the development of the UK’s future deterrent capability. My main focus will be to continue the impressive momentum that has been built in this complex and challenging endeavour.”

Nick takes over from Iain Stevenson, who has been interim CEO for the past 10 months. Iain will continue in this role until Nick joins AWE – at which point he will become Deputy CEO, and a member of the AWE Plc Board.

Sir John Manzoni said: “The Board thanks Iain for his leadership over the past 10 months, accelerating the momentum of our transformation, and putting us on track for future success. I’m delighted Iain will now become Deputy CEO, allowing AWE to continue to benefit from his exceptional programme delivery skills.”

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