QinetiQ US, Teledyne FLIR Defense get new leaders

UK-based defence contractor QinetiQ Group has named Northrop Grumman executive Shawn Purvis as president and CEO of its US business, according to a 17 January announcement.

Purvis has been president of Northrop Grumman's Enterprise Services organisation for the past four years, overseeing the US defence contractor's information systems. At QinetiQ US, she will replace Mary Williams, whose decision to step down was revealed in October 2021.

Purvis will have plenty to do in her new role, which begins in mid-February. QinetiQ has said it wants to more than double the size of its US business over the next five years through organic growth and acquisitions.

Separately, US industrial conglomerate Teledyne Technologies announced on 18 January that it has promoted JihFen Lei to executive vice-president of Teledyne FLIR's defence business.

Lei will also continue to serve as general manager of the Surveillance unit within Teledyne FLIR Defense. Before rejoining Teledyne in 2021, Lei worked at the US Department of Defense, including as acting deputy undersecretary of research and engineering.

Teledyne also announced that David Cullin, former acting general manager of the Unmanned and Integrated Solutions (UIS) unit within Teledyne FLIR Defense, has been named the permanent general manager of UIS.