Leidos has announced the appointment of Thomas Bell as CEO, expected to be effective May 3. He will succeed current Chairman and CEO Roger Krone, who has served in the role since 2014.
Bell is currently president of defense for Rolls-Royce plc and chairman and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, Inc.
Krone will retire as chairman at the time of the Leidos 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, and as CEO when Bell’s appointment becomes effective.
“Working with the extraordinary people of Leidos has been the honor of my career,” Krone said. “Their dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to our mission have been the driving force behind our success.”
The board expects to appoint Robert S. Shapard as independent, non-executive chair after the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and will also nominate Bell to the board. Krone will continue as a fully employed adviser through July.
“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 Shapard, lead director of the company’s board.
Prior to his current role, Bell was senior vice president of global sales and marketing for defense, space & security at The Boeing Co. Before joining Boeing in 2015, he was president of Rolls-Royce Defense Aerospace.
“Roger Krone’s impact on Leidos and its customers will be felt for years to come,” Shapard said. “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. Now, Leidos is not only a market leader but, just as importantly, a place where employees feel a deep sense of mission and community.”