Allan Cook CBE announced as DGP industry Co-Chair
Speaking about his appointment, Allan Cook (above) said:“It is a privilege to become the new DGP Co-Chair and I will continue to build and expand on the excellent leadership from my predecessor Steve Wadey.
“With the support of industry and Government colleagues we will see the Defence Growth Partnership continue to grow in stature and to offer our international partners and potential customers the tailored solutions they need to meet their defence and security challenges.”
Business Minister Anna Soubry said: “Allan Cook’s appointment as the new industry Co-Chair provides a great opportunity to build on his existing DGP role. He is a chartered engineer with more than 40 years international experience in the automotive, aerospace and defence industries that will prove invaluable in advancing the DGP’s main aims and I look forward to working with him.”
Through the DGP, Government and industry are jointly engaged in a programme of work to increase exports, boost productivity, encourage innovation and develop skills across the UK’s defence sector.
As well as the UK Defence Solutions Centre – an industry-first which brings together the entire UK value chain to work collaboratively in developing innovative and tailored solutions – the DGP has also worked to strengthen UKTI DSO with a focus on connecting the UK DSC with international customers.
Other key initiatives being undertaken by the DGP include:
• Dual-Use Technology Exploitation (DUTE): A £10 million project supported by Government and industry, created to identify and leverage technologies from adjacent sectors such as rail and civil aerospace, and put them to dual use. It harnesses the UK’s vibrant community of SMEs, recognising the trend for greater investment in the civil domain, and augments it as a way to stimulate growth for defence exports.
• The DGP Innovation Challenge: Launched by the Minister for Defence Procurement, the £10m challenge funded by the MOD is focused identifying on next-generation solutions and technology.
• Systems Engineering Master’s Apprenticeship Programme (SEMAP): Recognising the need for an educated and flexible workforce, SEMAP is a new Masters level standard in Advanced Systems Engineering, designed and developed by industry, trade bodies and academia to support the sector with critical skills that will deliver a competitive advantage. Allan Cook will continue as the industry sponsor of SEMAP.
Allan Cook takes over from Steve Wadey who is to remain part of the Defence Growth Partnership within his capacity as Chief Executive of QinetiQ.
Allan Cook was appointed a non-executive director of WS Atkins in September 2009, taking up the post of chairman on 1 February 2010. He is a chartered engineer with more than 30 years’ international experience in the automotive, aerospace and defence industries. He was chief executive of Cobham PLC until the end of December 2009 and prior to this he held senior roles at GEC-Marconi, BAE Systems and Hughes Aircraft.
Allan is deputy chairman of Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings) Limited and a member of the operating executive board of J.F. Lehman & Company. He is chairman of the Skills & Jobs Retention Group and chairman of the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies (SEMTA). He is also lead Non-Executive Member of the Departmental Board for the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, and was chairman of UK Trade & Investment’s Advanced Engineering Sector Advisory Board until October 2013.
Allan was chairman of FINMECCANICA UK Ltd and chairman of Selex ES until the end of December 2014. He was past president of the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) and past president of the Society of British Aerospace and Defence Companies (SBAC).
In 2008, Allan was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
He is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering where he is vice president and serves as a trustee for the Academy. He also chairs the Academy’s employer-focused Diversity Leadership Group, part of the BIS STEM Diversity Programme. Allan became a Fellow of the 48 Group Club in December 2015.