John Hillen has stepped down as CEO of Sotera Defense Solutions after five years at the helm and will serve as vice chairman of the company’s advisory board.
William Cave and Laurie Villano will serve as interim co-chief executives and will continue to lead defense and intelligence solutions and cyber systems and solutions business lines, Sotera said Thursday.
The board of directors is searching for a new CEO.
“We are grateful for the experience, wisdom, and vast knowledge of the market he has brought to Sotera as our CEO, and I am pleased that the company will continue to benefit from his insight through his role on our advisory board, ” said Matt Cwiertnia, Sotera board chairman.
Hillen spoke to our sister site ExecutiveBiz in January as part of that site’s continuing series of interviews with the GovCon industry’s top executives.
In that conversation, Hillen discussed the company’s performance during fiscal year 2012 and its place in the industry as a mid-tier contractor (click here to read the full interview).
Hillen joined Sotera in 2008 and led the company through its initial public offering on the NASDAQ market in 2009, when it was known as Global Defense Technology & Systems.
An affiliate of Ares Management purchased the company in April 2011 and named it Sotera.
