Defence manufacturing group Avon Protection has appointed the chief financial officer of military and security firm Ultra Electronics as its new chief executive.
The Melksham-based group, which specialises in protective gear, masks and breathing equipment for the military and first-responder markets, announced the appointment of Jos Sclater nearly five months after the resignation of previous CEO Paul McDonald.
Mr Sclater, pictured, who will join Avon in January, has spent the past three years as Ultra Electronics’ group chief financial officer, during which he led a broad-based transformation programme focused on improving growth and efficiency.
He also had group-wide responsibility for the finance, treasury, IT, procurement, transformation, continuous improvement and risk functions as well as direct oversight of Ultra’s forensic technology and energy businesses.
Ultra employs around 4,500 people and works on many of the world’s largest long-term military programmes spanning aviation, warships and electronic warfare. Its customers include the MoD, US Department of Defense, BAE Systems and Boeing.
Prior to working at Ultra, he was group CFO at Castrol Lubricants and, before that, spent seven years at UK engineering giant GKN, including as group CFO and director of corporate finance & strategy.
He started his career as a qualified solicitor and held in-house legal and merger and acquisition roles at chemical giants ICI and AkzoNobel and also at GKN.
He said: “Avon Protection is a business with a proud history and an exciting future and I am delighted to have been asked to take the chief executive officer role.
“The group has unique technologies with global market-leading positions in respiratory and head protection markets.
“I am excited by its growth potential, and I very much look forward to leading the next stage of its development.”
Avon said his appointment followed an in-depth search process led by executive chair Bruce Thompson with the support of the group’s nominations committee.
Mr Bruce will continue as executive chair until Mr Sclater joins the group, when he will revert to his previous non-executive chair role.
He said: “I am delighted to welcome Jos to Avon Protection and the board looks forward to working with him.
“He brings a wealth of experience in leadership roles and an impressive track record of value creation within global manufacturing businesses.
“His expertise in a range of disciplines and deep experience in the international defence industry make him a standout choice to lead Avon Protection as chief executive officer.”
Mr McDonald – who had spent 19 years at Avon, five as CEO, before stepping down – was said by the group to have been instrumental in its transformation into a world leader in respiratory and head protection technology.
Under his stewardship the group, employing more than 1,000 people in seven locations, sold its historic dairy industry business for £180m and paid $130m (£100m) for US head protection systems manufacturer Team Wendy. It also rebranded from its original name of Avon Rubber.
