Iain joined AWE in October 2021 and became interim Chief Executive Officer in April 2023, leading on the organisation’s critical mission to support the defence and security of the UK.
In January 2023, Iain became Chief Operating Officer heading up a new organisation which will form the cornerstone of our new operating model, combining this role with his position as Executive Director, Mission Delivery. This combination provided integrated programme management, product delivery and customer engagement.
Iain began his career as an apprentice with a civil engineering business in Glasgow. On completion of his apprenticeship Iain joined Yarrow Shipbuilders firstly in engineering and then in many different roles within project management & planning on the Type 23 Frigate Programme.
In 2000 Iain was appointed as Project Manager to lead the implementation of a new Business System across the Naval Ships business in preparation of the Design and Manufacture of the Type 45 Destroyer Programme. This involved a large element of cultural change and the experience opened up opportunities to leave BAE in 2002 and move to London to take up a role as Lead Consultant implementing the Project Management controls on BAA’s Terminal 5 construction programme. Through his time on the project Iain held a number of roles in Project and Performance Management.
Iain returned to BAE Systems in 2005 to take up a new role as Head of Programme on the new Type 45 Programme (AWD). In 2008 Iain was appointed Programmes Director for the Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier and a member Aircraft Alliance Team. Several other key leadership roles followed on the Oman Khareef Programme and the RN OPV Batch 2 Programme.
In September 2016 Iain was appointed Managing Director of Naval Ships and has seen the completion of the QE Carrier into service, winning the contract for the Type 26 Batch 1 Programme and the Global Combat Ship variants for both Canada and Australia. This changed the Naval Ships into an International business and an order book that secured 20 years of continual shipbuilding on the Clyde.
In January 2019 Iain was appointed Group Project Management Director of BAE Systems and led the function across the enterprise. Iain led the Project Management transformation of its leadership approach to complex Programmes. With a growing Portfolio and an increase in complexity this was a critical enabler to the business’s operational performance.
Iain is a strong believer in investment in people development and enjoys mentoring the next generation of leaders. Iain is married, with two teenage boys that keep him busy at the weekends. In his spare time, he enjoys running, spinning and watching his local cricket team (yes, a Scotsman who likes Cricket).