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Four senior market leaders have joined systems specialist Ultra Electronics Australia as the company looks to grow from its core electronic warfare expertise to provide full Australian support of Ultra’s global capabilities.
Scott Peak joins Ultra as market leader maritime and underwater warfare, and Aiden Whiteman transfers from an international Ultra business unit as market leader communications.
In addition to these external appointments, two current Ultra Australia employees have been given enhanced roles – Peter Weir as market leader EW and C2ISR, and Nic Coleman in the key role of Ultra’s through-life support leader.
Ultra’s regional director for Australia and New Zealand Bernard Mills explained to Defence Connect the rationale for these appointments.
"Step one occurred in 2016 when the Ultra Group conferred on Ultra Australia strategic and program leadership across all capabilities going forward," said Mills.
"The group is determined to further develop strong skills, program leadership and Australian workshare in its Australian entity, in preference to the disparate arrangements – including through overseas business units, or through agents and representatives – that had typified Ultra’s business models in the past.
"The appointment of these market leaders is clearly the second step to this strategy and they will work with Ultra Australia managing director Doug Burd and I to shape the group’s approach to key pursuits and programs in Australia and New Zealand. They will guide the continued growth of our business so that Defence and other customers get the maximum capability, responsiveness and support from the local entity, and can more effectively access the global expertise which exists across the Ultra Group."
Defence Connect understands that Ultra’s strategic direction for Australia is already bearing fruit, with strongly enhanced AIC evident in recent offers on key maritime and other pursuits, personnel now based in four Australian cities (Adelaide, Canberra, Perth and Sydney), and rapidly growing relationships across the Australian supply chain.
