Michael Ord Group Chief Executive Close Michael Ord Group Chief Executive Michael Ord Group Chief Executive Michael Ord was appointed to the Board on 1 June 2018, and appointed as Group Chief Executive on 1 July 2018. Michael formerly held a number of senior management roles with BAE Systems including Managing Director of their Naval Ships and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter businesses. Prior to his 1996 move to industry Michael had a successful career in the Royal Navy serving for twelve years in a number of engineering management roles. An Aeronautical Systems Engineering graduate and a Chartered Engineer, Michael has also completed post-graduate management studies at Manchester Business School and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme. Michael is a non-executive director of TT Electronics plc, a trustee of The Education & Training Foundation, and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
James Mortensen Chief Financial Officer Close James Mortensen Chief Financial Officer James Mortensen Chief Financial Officer James Mortensen joined the board on 1 November 2023 and was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on 1 January 2024. James has a proven track record in industrial, engineering and technology sectors and extensive experience building and managing global, multi-disciplinary finance teams. He joins Chemring from Smiths Group plc, the FTSE 100 engineering group, where he has spent the last seven years.
Sarah Ellard Group Legal Director and Company Secretary Close Sarah Ellard Group Legal Director and Company Secretary Sarah Ellard Group Legal Director and Company Secretary Sarah Ellard was appointed as Group Legal Director on 7 October 2011, having been Group Company Secretary since 1998. Prior to joining the Group, Sarah trained and worked at Ernst & Young LLP. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute.
Rupert Pittman Group Director of Corporate Affairs Close Rupert Pittman Group Director of Corporate Affairs Rupert Pittman Group Director of Corporate Affairs Rupert Pittman joined Chemring in September 2011 as Group Director of Communications and Investor Relations, and became Group Director of Corporate Affairs in November 2015. Prior to joining Chemring he was Managing Director of a leading independent corporate and financial communications consultancy, Cardew Group. He has advised international companies, both public and private, across the spectrum of communication including M&A, flotations, rights issues and crisis management.Prior to this, Rupert had a successful career as an officer in the British Army.Rupert is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and is a Trustee of the Sherborne School Foundation.
Steve Messam Group Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Director Close Steve Messam Group Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Director Steve Messam Group Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Director Steve Messam joined the Group on 1 February 2021 as Group Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Director. Prior to joining Chemring, Steve worked for Rolls-Royce as Director Health Safety & Environment Group Business Services, having worked his way to this role from VP HSE Marine and Global Head of HSE. Before working for Rolls-Royce, Steve headed up the SHE function for BAE Systems Surface Ships, previously running his own HSE Consultancy, Messam & Rider. Throughout Steve’s career, he has prided himself in creating the right relationships at all levels to help create an environment where everyone can be at their best. This collaborative approach has led to a number of successful cultural change programmes, two of which have been recognised at the highest level within their respective organisations.
Llyr Jones Group Strategy and Corporate Development Director Close Llyr Jones Group Strategy and Corporate Development Director Llyr Jones Group Strategy and Corporate Development Director Llyr Jones joined Chemring on 8 February 2021 as Group Strategy and Corporate Development Director. Llyr has been working within the defence, national security and aerospace sectors for over 30 years. His career spans five continents, and specific international assignments have included Japan and France. Over this time, he has held a wide range of leadership posts focusing particularly on strategy, mergers and acquisitions, business development, industrial policy, and international affairs. Previously he has been a Board Member of Canning House - the UK’s leading forum for informed comment, contacts and debate on Latin American politics, economy and business, a Policy Fellow and Development Board member at the Centre for Science and Policy, Cambridge University, a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Advanced Manufacturing and a Non-Executive Director of the Strategic Planning Society. Llyr is a Chartered Director and Chartered Engineer as well as Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He holds degrees from several UK universities – including a PhD from the University of Southampton and an MBA from the Loughborough University School of Business and Economics.