Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc
ULE:LN
Overview
Company Profile
Ultra Electronics specialises in the designs and manufacture of electronic and electromechanical products, notably for the defence industry such as aircraft, ships and armoured vehicles.
Classification
Sector Industrials
Industry Aerospace & Defense
Financials
Corporate
Board of Directors
Douglas Caster CBE BSc MIET
Chairman
Douglas is a highly-experienced engineer and manager of electronics businesses. He has a long track record of driving growth through effective acquisition and superior financial performance in the companies he has led. Douglas Caster started his career as an electronics design engineer with the Racal Electronics Group in 1975, before moving to Schlumberger in 1986 and then to Dowty as Engineering Director of Sonar & Communication Systems in 1988. In 1992, he became Managing Director of that business and, after participating in the management buy-out which formed Ultra Electronics, joined the Board in October 1993. In April 2000, he was promoted to the position of Managing Director of Ultra’s Information & Power Systems division. In April 2004, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer and became Chief Executive in April 2005. He was appointed deputy Chairman in April 2010 and became Chairman of Ultra in April 2011.
Rakesh Sharma BSc EMBA MInstP CPhys
Chief Executive
Rakesh has managed businesses and divisions across the full range of Ultra’s wide portfolio, with consistent success in driving growth in the Group. Combining business and technical insight, he ensures Ultra businesses maintain a competitive advantage in the Group’s specialist market sectors, while delivering superior financial performance. Rakesh Sharma started his career as an radio systems engineer at Marconi in 1983, before moving to Dowty as Chief Engineer of Sonar & Communication Systems in 1989. He was appointed Marketing Director of that business in 1993, when Ultra Electronics was formed. From 1997 to 1999, he worked in the US as Ultra’s Operations Director, North America. After returning to the UK, he was Managing Director of PMES and then of Sonar & Communication Systems, before taking his first divisional role in 2005 as Managing Director, Tactical & Sonar Systems. In 2008, he moved to run the Group’s Information & Power Systems division, before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in January 2010. He was appointed to the Board in April 2010 and became Chief Executive in April 2011.
Mary Waldner MA FCMA
Group Finance Director
Mary has a broad range of experience in a variety of sectors and an excellent track record of delivery throughout a number of senior financial roles with major public limited companies. After graduating from Oxford University with an MA in Physics, Mary started her career at Coopers & Lybrand Management Consultancy Services, before working for Vauxhall Motors Ltd. From 1998 to 2008, she held a number of senior roles at British Airways plc, including Financial Controller (Commercial) and Manager, Corporate Planning and Reporting. Following this, she then moved to 3i Group plc, where she was Group Financial Controller. In 2011, Mary joined QinetiQ Group plc as Director, Group Finance. She joined Ultra Electronics as Group Finance Director and was appointed to the Board in July 2013.
Mark Anderson CB BSc
Non-Executive Director
Mark brings a broad customer perspective, operational experience from recent conflicts and collaboration with close allies. His oversight of Ultra’s strategic process will benefit from this broad understanding of the customer need. Mark Anderson joined the Royal Navy in 1974 as a weapon system engineer, before switching career path to achieve both nuclear submarine and ship command. His MoD staff appointments include policy roles in two Strategic Defence Reviews and equipment customer responsibility for all underwater programmes. He has worked closely with the US throughout his career, including sensitive roles within the US Joint Staff. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he commanded all Fleet Operations and headed the UK submarine service up to the end of his 36 years’ service in June 2011. He then joined Ultra in a divisional strategy role, before being selected to join the Board in April 2012.
John Hirst* CBE BA FCA DSc MCT CCMI
Non-Executive Director
John Hirst is a highly experienced leader of large global organisations, in both the private and public sector. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise which he will bring to Ultra’s Board. John was most recently Chief Executive of the Met Office, a post he held from 2005 to 2014. Prior to this John was CEO of Premier Farnell. Before this he spent 19 years with ICI Plc, during which he was Chief Executive of two of ICI’s Global businesses, ICI Performance Chemicals and ICI Autocolor, and was Group Treasurer. He was awarded a CBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List for his national and international services to Meteorology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers and a companion of the Chartered British Institute of Management. He was appointed to the Board in January 2015. *Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committee member
Sir Robert Walmsley KCB, FREng
Non-Executive Director
Sir Robert brings to Ultra’s Board, solid experience in the defence, security, energy and transport sectors. He has a deep knowledge of all of Ultra’s main geographic markets and a substantial experience of government procurement. Sir Robert was most recently Chief of Defence Procurement at the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), a post which he held from 1996 until his retirement from public service in 2003. Prior to his MoD appointment, Sir Robert had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, where he rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in 1994 and served for two years as Controller of the Navy. Sir Robert Walmsley is a Non-Executive Director of Cohort plc and of the General Dynamics Corporation. He was appointed to the Board in January 2009. *Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committee member.