LONDON, UK: Cohort Plc, the independent technology group, announced the appointment of Beatrice Mary Nicholas as a non-executive director, with effect from 1 September 2021.

Beatrice will also become a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees.

Beatrice has had a distinguished career in defence engineering and research. Most recently she was Director of Engineering for the Airborne and Space division of Leonardo UK Limited, with responsibility for the execution of all engineering projects within the division.

She started her career at the GEC Hirst Research Centre in 1984, moving to GEC Marconi Avionics in 1995, where she held several senior management positions. As part of the wider consolidation in the sector, GEC Marconi Avionics became part of BAE Systems in 1999 and then Selex Galileo Limited in 2012, subsequently part of the Leonardo Group.

In 2010 she was appointed Senior Vice President with responsibility for leading the electronic warfare business. In 2012 she was appointed Group Engineering Director, with responsibility for 2,500 engineering staff in UK, Italy, the US and the Middle East, delivering projects in the defence and space sectors.

Following her retirement from Leonardo UK Limited in 2017 she established an independent consultancy, Beatrice Nicolas Consulting Limited, advising on diversity and inclusion.

Nick Prest, Chairman of Cohort said: “We are pleased to welcome Beatrice to Cohort’s board and look forward to her contribution. She brings a wealth of experience in senior roles in the defence industry, much of it in products and technologies closely aligned to Cohort and encompassing both UK and international businesses. This will be a significant benefit to the Group, given that we now have six standalone businesses based in three countries with a mix of cultures.”

Beatrice Mary Nicholas (née Andrews), 61, is a director of Beatrice Nicholas Consulting Limited. Other than as set out in this announcement, there are no further disclosures required under Schedule Two, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.