MARSS appoints Andrew Forbes to lead new Arabian office

January 26, 2021

MARSS Group has appointed Andrew Forbes as the Managing Director of the company’s newly created headquarters in Riyadh.

In this newly created position, Mr Forbes will work to drive new business and further develop the company’s presence in the region.

Mr Forbes served a long and distinguished career in the British Army, with 26 years in the Royal Corps of Signals. During this time, he served multiple deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, achieving an MBE for his work in 2004. In 2009, he returned to civilian life and continued building on his already impressive credentials with a series of roles in military organisations and the defence sector – including NATO. His final position prior to joining MARSS was as the Head of Middle East and North Africa at Airbus.

“It was an easy decision to join the MARSS team, as it’s a very exciting time for the company. MARSS has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in recent years, due to the cutting-edge technology it’s developing and the growing requirement for CUAS solutions”, said Mr Forbes.

“Furthermore, MARSS’ agility means we can bring solutions to market much more quickly than competitors and, most importantly, keep pace with the development of threats. From a personal perspective, the company’s size allows me to work with a greater degree of autonomy and, therefore, be a bigger part of MARSS’ exciting growth journey”.

Stepping into the new role, Andrew will focus on expanding and developing his team, as he looks to pass on his years of experience, by helping local engineers and graduates develop their skills and expertise. He will also have wider Group strategic input, as the company looks to continue its impressive growth. This role also aims to support Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s broad economic plan to reduce its reliance on oil and diversify its economy.

Johannes Pinl, CEO at MARSS, commented: “I’m certain that Andrew’s vast experience will prove a great asset for the MARSS team, as we continue to grow the company and build our presence in the Middle East. His time spent working in the region has given him a nuanced understanding of client’s requirements, which I’m sure will form a fundamental part of growing and passing on key skills within MARSS.

“The Middle East is an area which is investing in CUAS technology, and our presence in the region should be a step closer to providing a protective shield of capabilities around the area’s most critical national infrastructure”.

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