Nigel Whitehead

Nigel was appointed as the Group Managing Director, Programmes & Support, BAE Systems in 2008. Nigel has responsibility for some of the UK’s largest engineering, manufacturing and support services programmes.

Previously Nigel was Group Managing Director of the Military Air Solutions business, during which time he was also a Supervisory Board Member of Eurofighter GmbH. Nigel has been active in the defence and security sectors for 27 years, including design, development, production and support programmes in the UK, Sweden and Australia.
Before joining the Company as an aerodynamicist, Nigel worked for Rolls-Royce for four years as a production engineering apprentice and graduated in mechanical engineering. Nigel is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Nigel’s external roles include: Council Member, Royal Academy of Engineering; Commissioner, UK Commission for Employment and Skills; Trustee, WIG (Whitehall and Industry Group); Chairman, UK Council for Electronic Business; Member, Apprentice Ambassador Network; and Council Member, A|D|S (Aerospace, Defence, Security).

Nigel is passionate about painting and spending time with his family.