Thales Australia and New Zealand announced the appointment of Jeff Connolly as Chief Executive Officer following the decision by current CEO Chris Jenkins to retire after 14 years in the role. Mr. Connolly will take up the role on 1 September 2022, with Mr. Jenkins agreeing to continue to serve Thales and its customers as a non-executive director after a period of leave. Australian-born Mr. Connolly will join Thales from multinational technology and engineering company Siemens AG,
where he has been Executive Chairman and CEO of Siemens Australia and New Zealand for the past 10 years. In a 30-year career at Siemens, Mr. Connolly has held senior executive roles throughout Australia, Europe and Asia. Thales Australia and New Zealand Chair, Belinda Hutchinson, said the company was delighted to welcome a highly regarded senior business leader of Mr. Connolly's calibre to Thales. On behalf of the Thales Australia Board, Ms Hutchinson thanked Mr. Jenkins for his significant contribution to Thales over 35 years, including 14 years as the Thales Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive Officer.
Thales is one of the European leaders in manufacturing and marketing of electronic equipment and systems for the defense and security, aerospace, and transportation sectors. Net sales break down by product group as follows:
- defense and security systems (53.4%): C4I defense and security systems (control and monitoring systems, communication, protection, cyber-security, and other systems), defense mission systems, naval systems, electronic war systems, drones, air operation systems (air defense, air surveillance), ground defense systems and missiles;
- aerospace systems (28.4%): avionics equipment (cockpit, cabin multimedia, and simulation equipment), space systems (satellites, payloads, etc.);
- digital identification and security solutions (18.2%).
Besides, the group owns a 35% stake in Naval Group (manufacture of naval equipment for defense and nuclear energy sectors).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: France (29.5%), the United Kingdom (6.6%), Europe (24.8%), the United States and Canada (14%), Asia (9.4%), Near and Middle East (6%), Australia and New Zealand (4.4%) and other (5.3%).