By Calvin Biesecker
SAIC [SAI] yesterday confirmed that Walt Havenstein, the departing chief of BAE Systems‘ United States-based division, will become its new CEO in September, succeeding Ken Dahlberg who will remain as chairman through June 2010.
Havenstein, who will become SAIC’s CEO on Sept. 21, will also become a member of the company’s board of directors. Dahlberg will step down as CEO due to the company’s mandatory retirement policy for executive officers.
Speaking of Havenstein, Dahlberg said in a statement, “He has demonstrated an outstanding record of success at BAE Systems, where he managed the company’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, with 53,000 employees and annual sales in excess of $20 billion. Walt brings more than 25 years of experience not only in our core competencies, but also in a wide range of services that will provide new avenues of growth for the company.”
Until this Friday Havenstein is chairman and CEO of BAE Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Britain’s BAE Systems. The U.S. division accounts for more than half of BAE’s overall business. On Monday, BAE announced that Anthony Zinni, who is on the board of the company’s U.S. business, would become permanent chairman of BAE Systems, Inc., and its acting president and CEO (Defense Daily, June 23).
At SAIC Havenstein will lead a $10.1 billion public company whose business is derived from providing a wide range of services to the federal government, mainly the Defense Department. One of the key challenges he will face will be dealing with the impact of the Obama administration’s plans that are just getting underway to outsource less government work.
Havenstein is a former Marine who began his career in the defense industry with ITT Corp.‘s [ITT] Aerospace and Communications Division in business development and program management roles.
Dahlberg joined SAIC as CEO in November 2003 and became its chairman in July 2004. He successfully led the company through a difficult public stock offering in the fall of 2006. Prior to joining SAIC, Dahlberg ran General Dynamics‘ [GD] Information Systems and Technology Group.