BAE Systems is one of the largest and most geographically diverse defence and security companies in the world, with customers in more than 40 countries.

As Chief Executive, Charles Woodburn leads a skilled workforce of around 100,000 people working with customers and local partners to develop, engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security and keep critical information and infrastructure secure.

Listed on the FTSE 100 in the UK, the company is the leading defence supplier to the British government and a top ten defence prime contractor in the United States, the world’s single largest defence market.

Under Charles’ leadership, BAE Systems has focused on delivering operational and financial performance and last year completed the Company’s largest ever acquisition, significantly expanding the Company’s presence in the space domain. The Group will play a key role in the delivery of nuclear submarines for Australia as part of the trilateral AUKUS agreement between the US, UK and Australia.

Charles is an experienced business leader with over 27 years’ experience in the defence and aerospace, and oil and gas industries. Prior to joining BAE Systems in 2016, he was Chief Executive Officer of Expro Group, and spent 15 years with Schlumberger Limited, holding a number of senior management positions in Asia, Australia, Europe and the US.

Charles is a trustee and Chair of the charity Movement to Work. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. In 2023, Charles was awarded a CBE for services to international trade and skills.