Rolls-Royce North America names new CEO

Rolls Royce plc has named Adam Riddle as the new chairman and CEO of its Reston-based North American branch, as well as president of its defense division, effective immediately. He succeeds Thomas Bell, who recently was hired to lead Leidos.

Riddle, a former Army officer and Boeing Co. executive, has been with Rolls-Royce’s defense branch for nearly a decade, the British company said in its announcement Friday. He was most recently the head of its global services operations, which accounts for more than half of Defense Rolls-Royce plc’s annual revenues, and previously he was director of strategy and future programs, which included winning contracts for the Air Force’s B-52 aircraft’s replacement engines, a deal that could reach $2.6 billion, and providing the propulsion system for the V-280 Valor for the Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft program.

Riddle’s promotion came amid major changes in Rolls-Royce’s global leadership under CEO Tufan Erginbilgic, who took office in January and is based in London. Helen McCabe, senior vice president of finance for BP’s customer and products division, was named chief financial officer and is set to start later this year, and Rob Watson, who has been with Rolls-Royce for 13 years, is now president of the civil aerospace division. Previous civil aerospace head Chris Cholerton is now group president.

“I would like to congratulate both Rob and Adam as they take up their new roles,” Erginbilgic said in a statement. “Both are highly experienced leaders and will bring renewed energy and a determination to succeed to civil aerospace and defense. Their appointments are also evidence of the pipeline of senior talent which exists within Rolls-Royce. With the leadership changes announced today, we are acting at pace and gaining the momentum we need to transform Rolls-Royce. Together, my leadership team has a winning mindset, strong strategic alignment and a shared ambition to make Rolls-Royce a company that delivers for all stakeholders.”

Bell, who led Rolls-Royce North America since 2018, is set to join Reston-based Fortune 500 contractor Leidos on May 4, replacing Chairman and CEO Roger Krone, who will retire in July after nine years as Leidos’ chief executive.