Chemring Group PLC, which specialises in the manufacture of high-tech products and services for the aerospace, defence and security industries, has announced the appointment of Tony Wood as an independent non-executive director and chair designate.

Wood joins the board with effect from 1 October 2024 and will succeed Carl-Peter Forster as chair on 1 December 2024.

Wood is a member of the board of directors of Airbus SE, the CAC 40 aerospace and defence firm, and energy company National Grid plc. From 2018 to 2022, he was chief executive of FTSE 100 company Meggitt plc. He has also been a non-executive director and former president of ADS Group Limited, a trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors in the UK, from 2020-2023.

Prior to joining Meggitt, Wood spent 15 years at Rolls-Royce plc, latterly serving as president of aerospace from 2013 to 2016.

Michael Ord, chief executive of Chemring, commented: “On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Carl-Peter for his immeasurable guidance and commitment to Chemring over the past eight and a half years. He has led the board through a period of significant transformation, and he leaves the group in an excellent position to continue this success.

“We are delighted that Tony has agreed to succeed Carl-Peter as chairman of Chemring. He joins at an extremely exciting point in Chemring’s development and his knowledge and understanding of the defence and aerospace sector will be invaluable. Tony is an extremely experienced individual with a strong business track record, and the board believes that he is the right person to oversee the next stage of the group’s development.”