Leidos has announced the appointment of Thomas Bell as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), expected to be effective 3 May 2023.

Bell, current President – Defense Rolls-Royce plc and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce North America, Inc., will succeed the current Chairman and CEO of Leidos, Roger Krone, who has served in the role since 2014.

Krone will retire as Chairman at the time of the Leidos 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and CEO when Bell’s appointment becomes effective. The Board expects to appoint Robert S. Shapard independent, non-executive Chair after the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders and will also nominate Bell to the Board.

The company says that Krone will continue as a fully employed advisor through July of this year.

“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 the company’s Board. “His deep understanding of many of our customers will facilitate a smooth transition.”

Prior to his current role, Bell was Senior Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing for defense, space and security at The Boeing Company. Before joining Boeing in 2015, he was President of Rolls-Royce Defense Aerospace, having joined as President, Customer Business, North America in mid-2012. Previously he spent more than two decades with Boeing in a variety of leadership positions within the defense, space and security business and began his aerospace career with Lockheed Martin in human space flight.

“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. Now, Leidos is not only a market leader but, just as importantly, a place where employees feel a deep sense of mission and community,” said Shapard.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend our deepest gratitude to Roger for his nearly nine years of dedicated service. He has left an indelible mark on our company and our culture and we are a better organization because of his leadership. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and we look forwards to continuing to build on the foundation that he has laid for Leidos’ future success.”

“Working with the extraordinary people of Leidos has been the honor of my career. Their dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment to our mission have been the driving force behind our success. I want to thank them for the privilege of serving as their leader for nearly nine years and for inspiring me with their passion, their brilliance and their unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Krone.

“It has been a privilege to be a part of this remarkable team and I am confident that the future of Leidos is in the best possible hands with all of them.”