Navantia Australia announced on September 29 that Warren King will be appointed as the chair of Navantia Australia Board during the next company board meeting, to be held next week in Australia.
The company says King’s appointment is part of the continuing growth of Navantia Australia, which has more than tripled its Australian workforce since 2014. It said King will bring ‘vast experience’ to the role, having served in the Royal Australian Navy before holding a number of general manager positions in both small-to-medium enterprises and major US multi-national corporations. Most recently, he was chief executive officer of the former Defence Materiel Organisation, where he oversaw programs including the Hobart Class destroyers and reforms to the sustainment of the Collins Class submarines.
“I am delighted to be able to announce the appointment of Warren King as the chair of the Navantia Australia board,” said José Esteban Garcia Vilasanchez, chairman of Navantia S.A. “There are few people in Australian defence industry who are as respected and experienced as Warren. He brings a vast level of knowledge and expertise to our company.”
Mr King said he is excited about the prospects of Australian shipbuilding and is looking forward to continuing to contribute. “I have always admired the work of Navantia Australia and the ships it has delivered to the Royal Australian Navy,” he said. “I look forward to working with Navantia Australia as a part of the continuous naval shipbuilding program. Navantia Australia has a great record of success in this country and we look forward to a bright future as Australia’s shipbuilding partner.”
The latest Navantia-designed vessel, HMAS Hobart (III), joined the Australian fleet on 23 September, and Garcia says that King’s appointment reiterates the company’s commitment to Australia. “Navantia is in Australia for the long term,” he said. “We have built strong relationships with Australian industry, we have grown our local workforce, and we are training the Australian naval engineers and architects of the future. The appointment of our first Australian chairman of the board is another significant step in this process.”