Our Trading Fund Board
The DSG Trading Fund Board comprises an independent nonexecutive Chairman, non-executive directors, the Chief Executive of DSG, and DSG Directors who act on behalf of the Owner in scrutinising the business plans and performance of the organisation.
DSG’s Executive Management Board, is responsible for leading, directing and managing the trading fund effectively in order to ensure delivery of the objectives and targets set for it by the Owner, and in particular the successful implementation of an approved Corporate Strategic Plan. Click here to launch the Executive Board Structure and Staff Costs.
Chairman
Alex Jablonowski
As Chairman of the Defence Support Group, Alex Jablonowski is responsible for leading the Board to ensure it operates efficiently and effectively and to oversee and scrutinise the organisation's plans and performance.
Alex had a 30 year career with Barclays retiring as CEO Barclays International. He has considerable experience of managing technology based operational service businesses and of strategic planning having served as Barclays Group Strategy Director. He is co-author of the 'Art of Better Retail Banking' published by Wileys in 2005. For the past 8 years, Alex has had a portfolio of interests across the public and private sector. He currently serves on a number of boards including the boards of the Supreme Court and the House of Commons and chairs the House audit committees, the first non MP to do so.
Chief Executive
Archie Hughes
Archie Hughes is responsible to the Owner and Parliament for delivering the strategic aims and objectives of the business and providing corporate governance leadership.
Archie was DARA's Chief Executive from January 2004 until he assumed responsibility for the merger of ABRO and DARA in July 2007 to form the Defence Support Group when he took on the role of Chief Executive. He has extensive experience in changing business culture; delivering improved business performance; and acquiring, integrating and managing high technology engineering and manufacturing businesses in the Defence and Aerospace Industries. An honours graduate from Strathclyde University, he was previously Chief Executive of Vickers Defence Systems (VDS), encompassing Specialist Engines and Vickers OMC as well as the Main Battle Tank and Military Bridging businesses.
Chief Operating Officer
John Reilly, OBE
John Reilly, Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the Air, Electronics, Armoured Vehicles and Land & B Vehicle business streams and determining the Operational Excellence strategy of the Defence Support Group. He is also responsible for a number of other business support functions including Quality, Environment, Safety, Health, Information Services and Facilities.
John was Chief Operating Officer at DARA from 2001 until he assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer following the formation of the Defence Support Group. He joined MOD in 1975 after a successful four-year engineering apprenticeship in industry. He has an MBA from Abertay University and has worked on a number of major programmes within MOD. He was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2006 for his contribution to the Defence industry.
Commercial Director (With effect 1 June 2010)
David Morgan
David Morgan is responsible for all DSG's customer and supply chain activities across the various business interests.
Prior to joining DSG, David was Commercial Director for the Technology Solutions Sector at QinetiQ with responsibility for building a team supporting the commercial negotiating and management of contracts at both a national and international level.
Starting his career at British Aerospace, he moved into senior commercial roles at both KBR and Logica.
Finance Director
Steve Hall
Steve Hall, Finance Director is responsible for financial strategy, propriety and governance and the delivery of high quality management information to the business.
Steve was previously Finance Director at DARA until he assumed the role of Finance Director in the Defence Support Group. He has extensive experience in finance, change management and project management gained from 20 years in a variety of senior roles in MOD and its Agencies. Prior to joining DARA, Steve was Finance Director for Military Survey.
HR Director
Derek Owen
Derek Owen, HR Director He is responsible for the full HR function as well as internal communications, parliamentary business and security policy.
Derek was previously HR Director at DARA until he assumed the role of HR Director in the Defence Support Group. He worked in Germany for nearly three years as HR Manager for The Health Alliance, an innovative partnership with Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital Trust and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association responsible for delivering health care to British Forces in Germany. He has extensive HR, employee relations and change management experience in a variety of roles throughout the MOD and with all three Services, although notably with the Army. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Strategy Director
Keith Norris
Keith Norris was appointed as the Defence Support Group's Strategy Director in January 2008. He previously led the DARA Rotary and Components sales team within MOD Centre having previously conducted a number of strategic reviews of ABRO and DARA. He has worked extensively overseas, including Hong Kong as Assistant Civil Secretary - British Forces; Germany as secretary to the Tornado Board; Saudi Arabia on the Al Yamamah project and more recently as project director of the UK/South African strategic defence equipment programme.
Non Executive Director
Janet Baker
Janet Baker has had a lengthy career in management consultancy, firstly with Coopers and Lybrand followed by Ernst and Young and then as a Senior Partner with PA Consulting Group. After leaving full-time consultancy work in 2006, she became a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the HealthCare Purchasing Consortium. She is now a Commissioner (NED) of the Audit Commission and a member of its Audit Committee, a Non Executive Director of HM Treasury's Risk and Audit Committee, and a Non Executive Director on the Board of the Rural Payments Agency.
As a Non-Executive Director to the DSG Trading Fund Board, Janet's role is to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to the DSG Management Board. She is a member of the Audit Committee and Chair's the Remuneration Committee.
Non Executive Director
David Barrass BSc. (Mech Eng), FCMA, FRSA
David Barrass's experience covers a broad range of industries both in the UK and internationally and he is currently Chairman of both CastleCare Group Ltd and Material Advantage Group Ltd and is an Non-Executive Director of Fountains plc. A professional Interim Manager, his most notable recent assignment was as CEO and Deputy Master of the Royal Mint where he delivered a major turnaround of the business.
As a Non-Executive Director to the DSG Trading Fund Board, David's role is to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to the DSG Management Board.
Non Executive Director
Emma Davies
Emma Davies joined the civil service as a solicitor in 1992 working for the Crown Prosecution Service. Since then, Emma worked in the Home Office, linking up the computer systems across the Criminal Justice System, the Social Exclusion Unit, the Government Office for London and in Her Majesty's Courts Service. In 2009, Emma joined the MOD to represent its ownership interest in the MOD Trading Funds as well as sitting as a Non-Executive Director on the board of UKHO, DSTL and the Oil and Pipelines Agency. Emma is now the Programme Director for the Asset Management Programme, responsible for reviewing the ownership models for businesses across the range of MOD activity and implementing the recommended outcomes.
As a Non-Executive Director to the DSG Trading Fund Board, Emma's role is to provide expert advice, guidance and challenge to the DSG Management Board.
