Austal Names New Non-Executive Director (Australia)

Austal names Mr David Singleton to its Board of Directors. His appointment as a Non-Executive Director coincides with the resignation of Mr Christopher Norman, a Non-Executive Director. The changes support the company’s focus on further developing its defence, systems, and through-life support businesses as well as capitalising on the high level of activity in the Australian resources sector.

Appointment of Mr David Singleton

Austal Chairman John Rothwell said Mr Singleton brings a wealth of highly relevant business expertise and experience to the Austal Board.

“David has a track record of local and international success in senior roles and core strengths in the areas of leadership, strategy, finance, mergers and acquisitions. He also has a technical background including an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. This combination will prove of great benefit to Austal as we grow our current business and expand into new areas,” Mr Rothwell said. “In particular, David has extensive executive leadership credentials in international defence contracting and the Australian resources sector, both of which are areas of strategic focus for Austal.”

Prior to moving to Australia, Mr Singleton held numerous senior roles with BAE Systems​ (formerly British Aerospace​), which is one of the world’s largest defence companies. He served as Group Head of Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions in London from 1997 to 1998 and again in 2003.

In the intervening years, Mr Singleton was BAE’s Managing Director of Asset Management before spending three years in Rome as the Chief Executive Officer of Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS). A joint venture between BAE and Italy’s Finmeccanica, AMS was a major European integrated electronics company specialising in defence contracting with revenue in excess of €1.4 billion. During Mr Singleton’s tenure as CEO, AMS returned to profitability and recorded organic growth of 40 per cent.

Mr Rothwell said this experience was directly relevant to the ongoing expansion of Austal’s capabilities in the design, development and integration of electronic systems for the defence, paramilitary and civil markets.

“Developing our systems capability is a key part of our strategy, and David’s experience running what was an acknowledged leader in land and naval command and control systems, as well as a leading naval radar supplier, will clearly be beneficial,” he said.

Prior to joining BAE, Mr Singleton held senior management roles with several British defence manufacturers. He has also served as a member of the National Defence Industries Council in the UK, and as a board member and Vice President (Defence) of Intellect, a leading trade association for the UK technology industry.

Furthering his defence credentials and experience, Mr Singleton is a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Quickstep Holdings. Quickstep is currently manufacturing advanced composite components for the international F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program under an agreement with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman​.

Mr Rothwell said Mr Singleton’s other business activities would provide Austal with enhanced insight into the resources sector, particularly in Western Australia.

“In August this year we were awarded a contract to build mine site accommodation units, which demonstrated that there are opportunities for Austal in the mining and offshore oil and gas sectors which utilise Austal’s unique modular construction system. David’s current and past experience in both those areas will be invaluable in helping us to identify and capture more of that business in the future,” he said.

Mr Singleton has been CEO and Managing Director of Perth-based mineral exploration company Poseidon Nickel Limited since July 2007. Chaired by Andrew Forrest, the ASX-listed company is developing the largest high-grade nickel sulphide deposits of any exploration and development company in Australia.

He is also a Non-Executive Director of the listed mineral explorer and resource management company Triton Gold Limited. It has an extensive tenement holding in one of Western Australia’s significant gold provinces and is also undertaking exploration activities in Alaska.

Mr Singleton served as CEO and Managing Director of Clough Limited between 2003 and 2007. Clough is a publicly listed Australian based engineering, construction and asset support contractor providing full project life cycle solutions primarily to the upstream oil and gas sector. Its services range from complex front-end engineering design, construction, installation and commissioning to long-term operations and maintenance.

Resignation of Mr Christopher Norman

Mr Norman was the company’s Technical Director before becoming the Sales Director in 1993. He held that role until 2002 when he retired from his executive role in the company.

John Rothwell paid tribute to his fellow Founding Shareholder.

“I understand and support Chris’s decision and recognise that his many skills contributed significantly to where we are today. During our formative years, Chris was instrumental in the development, marketing and sales of the commercial vessel technology that positioned us for the move into defence arena, in particular our US Navy programs. Over the last decade he has continued to provide valuable input as a Non-Executive Director as the company has continued to grow and diversify. Whilst our working relationship will diminish, our personal friendship will not,” Mr Rothwell said.

Mr Norman said he was stepping back from some of his business commitments in order to have more time with his family.

“My involvement with Austal has been a fantastic journey. I am very thankful to John for selecting me to join his team, way back in 1987, and to everyone else who helped make the journey such an enjoyable and successful one,” he said “From our very early strategy sessions to selling, designing and building the biggest and best fast ferries in the world, to then becoming the prime contractor for the next generation of US Navy ships, it has been a fantastic 24 years.”

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Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, December 23, 2011; Image: Austal