Defence Online

Defence Equipment and Support CEO to stand down

September 29, 2017

The Ministry of Defence has announced that Tony Douglas, CEO of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), is to stand down from the role at the end of this year.

Douglas joined the MoD in September 2015 after being Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports.

He will return to the private sector having led DE&S through the delivery of significant project milestones, including the launch of Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier and the negotiations for the procurement of Type 26 and 31e frigates.

Mr Douglas described his decision to leave the post as “very difficult” and spoke of his pride on the strides made by DE&S during his tenure.

He said: We have made very real progress on project delivery and transformation and we should be individually and collectively proud of what we have done.”

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon paid tribute to progress achieved during Mr Douglas’ two-year stint. He said: “I am personally very grateful for the help and support Tony has provided to me personally and been very impressed by the significant progress he has achieved in his time with the MOD, we will be sorry to lose him.

“He is responding to an unexpected opportunity in the private sector which he has decided to pursue and I would not want to stand in his way from taking on that fresh challenge.

“I am confident that the momentum he has generated will be maintained by his executive team and, in due course, his successor ensuring that DE&S continues to deliver using the foundations he has put into place.”

The process to find his successor will begin immediately.

image © Crown Copyright

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DE&S Defence Equipment and Support Ministry of Defence Sir Michael Fallon Tony Douglas

Post written by: Matt Brown