Babcock names former Cobham executive finance chief to role

Babcock International has named David Mellors chief financial officer, the aerospace and defence specialist announced on Wednesday.

David Mellors will join Babcock on a designate basis on 1 November before fully assuming the role on 30 November.

He is replacing Franco Martinelli, who announced in July plans to retire. Martinelli will step down from the board at the end of November.

Mellors was previously chief financial officer of Cobham, the defence and aerospace contractor that was taken private earlier this year by US private equity firm Advent International in a contentious £4bn deal. Prior to working at Cobham, Mellors was finance chief at defence technology firm Qinetiq. He has also worked at Logica, CMG and Rio Tinto.

David Lockwood, chief executive of Babcock, said: “David has a successful CFO track record and brings considerable experience in defence, aerospace and commercial markets. Babcock makes a unique contribution to the markets it serves and David’s skills and proven expertise will help drive the group’s future success and growth.”