Ireland Degges
Rolls-Royce veteran Thomas Bell has been selected by Leidos’ board of directors to succeed Roger Krone, a 10-time Wash100 Award winner, as CEO.
Krone, who also serves as chairman of Leidos, will continue serving as chief executive until the transition goes into effect on the planned date of May 3, the Reston, Virginia-based company announced on Monday.
“Tom’s exceptional track record in harnessing the power of technology to drive growth and innovation, with his strong leadership skills and focus on understanding the needs of the customer, has resulted in a consistent record of success and value creation in both products and services,” said Bob Shapard, lead director of Leidos’ board.
Shapard added that Bell’s knowledge of numerous Leidos clients will allow for a smooth transition.
Bell currently serves as president of defense at Rolls-Royce and chairman and CEO of its North America business unit. His return to the the aircraft engine manufacturer was made after he was senior vice president of global sales and marketing for defense, space and security at Boeing.
His career at Rolls-Royce includes multiple executive positions, beginning as president of customer business for its North America sector and later moving to president of the organization’s defense and aerospace branch.
Prior to this earlier period at Rolls-Royce, Bell spent more than 20 consecutive years with Boeing in leadership positions spanning the defense, space and security sectors. He launched his aerospace career at Lockheed Martin in human space flight.
To ensure the success of Leidos’ CEO change, Krone will stay with the company as a fully employed adviser through July 2023. He will step down from his role as chairman and pass the CEO torch to Bell when Leidos holds its annual meeting of stockholders.
“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.
“Now, Leidos is not only a market leader but, just as importantly, a place where employees feel a deep sense of mission and community,” he added.
Krone thanked the Leidos team for the opportunity to lead the company and for inspiring him with their passion and brilliance. He emphasized the “dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment” to the organization’s mission as the “driving force” behind its success.
Following Leidos’ 2023 meeting with stockholders, the board forecasts the appointment of Shapard as independent, non-executive chair and the nomination of Bell to the board.
Leidos is a platinum sponsor for GovCon Wire’s 3rd Annual IC Acquisition and Technology Innovation Forum on March 9, which will connect public and private sector intelligence experts to discuss the impact of federal acquisition policies, procurement priorities, current events, modernization efforts and new technologies the current era of intelligence. To learn more and register to attend, please visit the GovCon Wire’s events page.
