Roger Krone, chairman and CEO of Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) and a 10-time Wash100 Award winner, will retire by May after nine years at the helm.
Leidos said Monday that Thomas Bell, CEO of Rolls-Royce’s North American subsidiary and president of its global defense business, will succeed Krone in the chief executive post, effective May 3.
Krone will step down as chairman when Leidos holds its annual stockholders’ meeting and continue to serve as a fully employed adviser through July to facilitate the leadership transition.
He joined the Reston, Virginia-based company in July 2014 as CEO and added the chairman title in March 2015. His four-decade experience in the aerospace sector included senior leadership roles at Boeing (NYSE: BA), General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) and McDonnell Douglas.
Robert Shapard, lead director of Leidos’ board, is expected to be named independent, non-executive chair.
“Roger Krone’s impact on Leidos and its customers will be felt for years to come. Under his leadership, Leidos has achieved tremendous growth, evolved its business strategy, and made a positive difference in the lives of countless people around the world,” Shapard said.
Bell, who is expected to be nominated to Leidos’ board, previously served as senior vice president of global sales and marketing for Boeing’s defense, space and security business.
His career at Rolls-Royce began in 2012, when he joined as president of customer business for North America. He started his aerospace career at Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT).
Shapard said Bell brings to Leidos his experience leveraging technology to drive innovation and growth, leadership skills and his understanding of the customers’ needs.
