Babcock appoints former Shell executive Ruth Cairnie as new chair

Aerospace and defence group Babcock has appointed former Royal Dutch Shell executive Ruth Cairnie as its new chair.

Cairnie, who will take on the role when Mike Turner retires at the company's annual general meeting on 18 July, had a 37-year international career spanning senior functional and line roles at Shell, including executive vice president for group strategy and planning.

She is currently the senior independent director of Associated British Foods and a non-executive director of Rolls Royce and ContourGlobal.

Mike Turner said: "Following a thorough process to identify and select a new chair, led by our senior independent director, Sir David Omand, we are delighted to welcome Ruth to the board. She is a strategic thinker and strong leader, and we look forward to her bringing her in-depth experience, gained from a broad range of executive and non-executive roles at leading industrial companies, both in the UK and internationally, to benefit Babcock."

Shore Capital analyst Robin Speakman said: "Well known to the UK government as a strategic advisor, we welcome this appointment."