The Board

  • Paul LesterPaul Lester, Chairman

    Paul joined the Survitec Group as Chairman in July 2011. Previously Chief Executive of VT Group Plc and Group Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Plc, Paul brings with him a wealth of industry experience. In particular, Paul played a key role in the merger of VT Group and Babcock in 2010. Paul has also held numerous Board and senior management positions at other engineering and support service companies gaining significant experience in both the Marine and Defence Markets. Paul is also currently Chairman of Greenergy and holds various other non-Executive Director posts including one at Invensys Plc.

  • Simon WitheySimon Withey, CEO

    Simon's experience over the past 30 years spans several markets including marine, defence and aerospace businesses around the world, gained in organisations such as VT Group, Babcock International Group and GEC as well as in joint venture companies with BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and EADS.

  • Brian StringerBrian Stringer, Chief Operating Officer

    Brian joined Survitec Group in June 2008 from Doncasters, the Aerospace Components Manufacturer, where he held the position of Group Business Improvement Director. Brian has a wealth of experience in operations management across a range of industries and has also held Board level roles in Siemens Power Generation and Williams Holdings.

  • Chris TaylorChris Taylor, Group Managing Director – Services

    Chris Taylor, Managing Director.Chris brings US and international aerospace, defence and marine experience having served as President of VT Group’s US Technical Services business.Combining international experience from previous roles in operations, strategy, M&A and investment banking, Chris brings unique and diverse insight to growth opportunities. Chris holds an MBA from the University of Southampton and is an avid sailor.

  • Chris BatesChris Bates, CFO

    Chris joins us from VPS Holdings, a Private Equity owned international security and property services business, where he held the position of Group Finance Director. Prior to this Chris held senior finance leadership positions with Invensys, Ricardo, Babcock International and TI/Smiths Group and started his career with Price Waterhouse.

    Chris holds an Honours degree in Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. He brings valuable and extensive board level experience in the international Engineering, High Technology, Contracting and Service sectors.

  • Steve CoatesSteve Coates

    Steve joined Warburg Pincus in 2003 and is responsible for the firm's European leveraged buy-out activities with a particular emphasis on industrial and consumer markets. Steve received an M.A. in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University, is a chartered accountant and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus he worked at 3i and Permira. He has been involved in a number of recent investments including Clondalkin Group, where he holds a board position, and the firm's investments in the Dutch cable industry and Premier Foods.

  • Bert JanssensBert Janssens

    Bert joined Warburg Pincus in 2007. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, Bert spent several years with The Boston Consulting Group in Brussels and worked at E-Zone, an incubator start-up. Bert is a graduate of Harvard Business School and holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering and a postgraduate degree in finance. Bert also sits on the board of SafetyKleen, a Warburg Pincus portfolio company