On 26 April 2012, Cobham plc (‘Cobham’ or the ‘Group’) announced that Chief Financial Officer (‘CFO’) Warren Tucker would be standing down from the Board at the Annual General Meeting in April 2013, after completing ten years of service. Today Cobham is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Nicholls as Chief Financial Officer of Cobham with effect from 1st May 2013.

Simon is currently CFO of Senior plc, the FTSE 250 international manufacturing group providing engineered products for aerospace, defence and commercial industrial applications. During his time at Senior he has played an important role in the successful strategic evolution and growth of the Business including the acquisition of four companies. He has also helped drive improved cash conversion through increased balance sheet efficiency and the management of working capital, and completed refinancings via US private placements and bank syndicated revolving credit facilities.

Before taking his current role five years ago, Simon was CFO of Hanson North America, based in the USA with responsibility for US$4bn of sales, where he took a leading role in the acquisition of some 35 companies. Prior to that he was Financial Controller for Hanson plc for three years supporting the geographically diverse portfolio of the company and the transformational £1.7bn acquisition and integration of Pioneer International Ltd. Previously, Simon spent nine years with Price Waterhouse in the UK and Canada, and four years working in senior financial positions.

John Devaney, Cobham Chairman said: “We are really pleased that Simon is joining us as Cobham’s next CFO, as he has a successful track record of financial leadership in global aerospace and broader commercial markets. His experience will enable him to play a key leadership role in delivering the Group’s strategy.”

Simon is a Chartered Accountant, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Operational Research, Statistics and Economics from Warwick University. He will primarily work out of Wimborne, Dorset and will begin his familiarisation with Cobham post the announcement of Senior plc’s preliminary results at the end of February 2013. Simon previously served as a non-executive director of AIM listed Hamworthy plc from September 2011 until its takeover in February 2012. Cobham confirms that there are no further disclosures to be made under rule 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules in respect of Simon.