Hanwha Aerospace has named Ben Hudson as CEO of its Europe and United Kingdom defense business. He is also currently CEO of the company’s Australia defense division.
Hudson expressed his excitement about taking on a new responsibility amid the company’s expansion in Europe. In recent months, the vendor has grown its number of collaborations in the region, including a proposed sale of additional K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers to Norway.
“Hanwha’s long-term vision starts at the very top of the company, with a drive to partner with our customers and create enduring sovereign capabilities that can deliver solutions to the defense and security challenges faced by nations now and into the future,” he said.
In his new role, Hudson brings over years of leadership experience at several companies, including BAE Systems, General Dynamics and Rheinmetall. He is expected to lead efforts to deliver localized, interoperable and rapid capability solutions that meet regional security requirements.
Michael Coulter, president and CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, described Hudson as an executive “who brings deep experience across European defense markets – to this key role leading our business in Europe and the U.K.”
“Hanwha is fully committed to working closely with our European partners for national priorities, and this appointment marks the beginning of the next phase of our journey, one grounded in trust, long-term collaboration and shared security goals,” Coulter said.
Hudson holds a mechanical engineering degree and an MBA from London Business School.