Michael Turner (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Michael John Turner CBE
(born 5 August 1948) is the former Chief Executive Officer
of the aerospace and defence company BAE Systems
.
. He gained a BA
from Manchester Polytechnic
in 1970, whilst working for Hawker Siddeley Aviation who he joined in 1966.
(COO) of the company, responsible for all of the company's business units.
Both Turner and BAE's previous Chairman, Sir Richard Evans
, have had an abrasive relationship with senior Ministry of Defence
officials. The relationship deteriorated over cost over-runs and delays to major procurement projects, for example BAE announced a shock profit warning in December 2002 related to two major projects, the Astute class submarine
and the Nimrod MRA4
. BAE took a £750 million hit against these projects.
On 15 October 2007 it was announced by BAE Systems that Turner would step down from his role in 2008. On the 1 September 2008 Ian King
the COO took over from Turner as CEO.
Turner is a member of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network
and was awarded the pretigious "Honorary Apprenticeship Award" in July 2009.
Source: BAE Systems biography
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 5 August 1948) is the former Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the aerospace and defence company BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
.
Early life
He attended Didsbury Technical High School (became Wilbraham High School in 1965) on School Lane in DidsburyDidsbury
Didsbury is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Mersey, south of Manchester city centre, in the southern half of the Greater Manchester Urban Area...
. He gained a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Manchester Polytechnic
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
in 1970, whilst working for Hawker Siddeley Aviation who he joined in 1966.
Career
Turner replaced the previous CEO at BAE Systems plc, John Weston, in March 2002 who was dismissed. Turner has previously been a Chief Operating OfficerChief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
(COO) of the company, responsible for all of the company's business units.
Both Turner and BAE's previous Chairman, Sir Richard Evans
Richard Evans (businessman)
Sir Richard Harry Evans, CBE, Hon FRAeS less formally known as Dick Evans, was formerly chairman of BAE Systems.In 2001 he became Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire...
, have had an abrasive relationship with senior Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
officials. The relationship deteriorated over cost over-runs and delays to major procurement projects, for example BAE announced a shock profit warning in December 2002 related to two major projects, the Astute class submarine
Astute class submarine
The Astute-class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. The class sets a new standard for the Royal Navy in terms of weapons load, communication facilities and stealth. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at...
and the Nimrod MRA4
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
The BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 was a maritime patrol and attack aircraft intended to replace the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2. The rebuilt aircraft would have extended the operating life of the Nimrod fleet by several decades and have significantly improved the aircraft by almost doubling the flight...
. BAE took a £750 million hit against these projects.
On 15 October 2007 it was announced by BAE Systems that Turner would step down from his role in 2008. On the 1 September 2008 Ian King
Ian King (BAE Systems)
Ian King is the CEO of BAE Systems, responsible for all of the company's business operations. For this role he is paid an annual base salary of £935,000. King is also a non-executive director of Rotork plc, an engineering company.-Career:...
the COO took over from Turner as CEO.
Turner is a member of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network
Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network
The Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network is an employer-led body in England. Its remit is to encourage more employers to become involved in apprenticeships in England....
and was awarded the pretigious "Honorary Apprenticeship Award" in July 2009.
Career timeline
- 1966 – Undergraduate Commercial Apprentice, Hawker Siddeley Aviation.
- 1970 – Contracts Officer, Hawker Siddeley Aviation.
- 1978 – Contracts Manager (Military), British AerospaceBritish AerospaceBritish Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
Aircraft Group Manchester Division. - 1981 – Executive Director - Administration, British Aerospace
- 1982 – Divisional Administration Director , British Aerospace
- Early 1980s to 1984 – Advanced Turboprop (ATP) Project team leader, British Aerospace
- 1984 – Divisional Director and General Manager, Kingston, British Aerospace. Responsible for BAe's KingstonKingston upon ThamesKingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
and Dunsfold Park facilities, which manufactured the Harrier and HawkBAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
aircraft respectively. - 1986 – Director and General Manager, Weybridge, Kingston and Dunsfold, part of BAe's Military Aircraft Division.
- 1987 – Director Marketing and Product Support, BAe Military Aircraft Division.
- 1988 – Executive Vice President Defence Marketing, British Aerospace
- 1992 – Chairman and Managing Director, British Aerospace Regional AircraftBAE Systems Regional Aircraftthumb|300px|An Avro RJ85. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft still leases a large number of these jets.BAE Systems Regional Aircraft produced the last fully UK-built airliner in November 2001, the Avro RJX...
and Chairman of Jetstream Aircraft. - 1994 – Promoted to the British Aerospace board as of 1 January
- 1994 – Chairman of Commercial Aerospace, which included BAe's AirbusAirbusAirbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
factories. - 1995 – Vice-President of the Society of British Aerospace CompaniesSociety of British Aircraft ConstructorsThe Society of British Aerospace Companies, known as SBAC was the UK's national trade association representing companies supplying civil air transport, aerospace defence, homeland security and space...
until 1996, then President from June 1996 until June 1997. - 1996 – Non-Executive Director of Babcock International GroupBabcock International GroupBabcock International Group plc is a British-based support services company specialising in managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety-critical and mission-critical environments. Although the company has civil contracts, its main business is with public bodies, particularly the UK...
. - 1996 – Head of BAe's defence export businesses
- 1998 – Appontied to the Airbus Supervisory Board. Retained this seat with the formation of Airbus SAS in 2001 until BAE sold its 20% share in 2006.
- 1999 – With the formation of BAE Systems, became Chief Operating Officer.
- 2002 – Replaced John Weston as CEO.
- 2005 – Non-Executive Director of P&O. Stepped down in March 2006.
- 2006 – Executive Directorship at Lazard Ltd
- 2008 – Non-Executive Chairman of Babcock International GroupBabcock International GroupBabcock International Group plc is a British-based support services company specialising in managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety-critical and mission-critical environments. Although the company has civil contracts, its main business is with public bodies, particularly the UK...
.
Source: BAE Systems biography