Boeing [BA] this week announced the establishment of a new operation to focus on the company’s rotorcraft support business in the United Kingdom.
The new organization, Boeing UK Rotorcraft Support, is part of the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems business unit.
Boeing’s U.K. portfolio of rotorcraft support activities includes the Chinook Through Life Customer Support program, which received the Chief of Defence Materiel Commendation award in November 2008, and the Apache Integrated Operational Support program.
Leading the new organization is Managing Director David Pitchforth. He is responsible for further developing Boeing’s rotorcraft support business in the United Kingdom while working directly with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), local industry partners and the company’s UK and U.S. rotorcraft teams.
“Creating this new operation underscores Boeing’s commitment to our customers, industry partners and employees in the U.K.,” Peri Widener, executive for Boeing’s global rotorcraft support team, said. “David has the local knowledge, customer relationships and leadership qualities necessary to make Boeing an agile onshore partner to the Ministry of Defence and to work effectively with local industry.”
In December 2007, Boeing announced the formation of Boeing Defence UK Ltd. to consolidate Boeing’s defense activities in the United Kingdom and to meet the criteria set forth in the Defence Industrial Strategy.
“The consolidation of our U.K. rotorcraft support business is an essential step in Boeing’s strategy for long-term growth and presence here in the United Kingdom,” Mike Kurth, managing director, Boeing Defence UK Ltd., said. “David’s experience with the customer and our industry partners will be an added benefit toward achieving our objectives of growth and partnerships.”
Pitchforth was most recently with Finmeccanica-GKN plc‘s AgustaWestland Military Division as director of Business Transformation and senior vice president, U.K. Government Business Unit. Prior to entering the defense industry, Pitchforth was well known for his role as managing director and chairman of the Jaguar Racing Formula 1 team.