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The global defence prime has announced key changes to its leadership team, confirming a promotion for the outgoing chief executive of BAE Systems Australia and a new appointment to fill the CEO role.
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Gabby Costigan, currently serving as BAE Systems Australia CEO, has been promoted to the role of group managing director of business development.
Costigan, who will be based in London, is set to assume her new role in the second quarter of 2022.
Ben Hudson, currently serving as chief technology officer in the UK, has been named as Costigan’s local successor, assuming his new role as BAE Systems Australia CEO following a hand over period.
Hudson is a veteran of the Australian Army and holds decades of experience in the defence industry.
Costigan’s promotion follows four years of service as Australia CEO, during which the workforce expanded from approximately 3,000 employees to 5,500.
The outgoing CEO oversaw growth across a number of major defence projects, including the JORN upgrade, F-35 sustainment and the Hunter Class frigate program.
Costigan was awarded an MBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to United Kingdom/Australia relations.
Last year, she accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Scott Morrison to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council as one of three representatives for the Australian economy.
Costigan also serves as a board member of the Princes Trust, an AMCHAM NSW Honorary Governor, chair of the Council for Women and Families United by Defence Service, a member of the CSIRO Manufacturing Advisory Group, and a member of the University of Adelaide Defence Cyber and Space Advisory Board.
Reflecting on her tenure as CEO, Costigan noted the company’s growth in recent years.
“I have loved leading Australia’s most diverse defence company over the past four years. The breadth of the work undertaken by the business and the capabilities and commitment of employees is really quite exceptional,” she said.
“It’s been hugely rewarding to see the business grow as major programs have ramped up while also delivering our existing contracts.
“I am really looking forward to continuing to support the Australian business in my new role.”
[Related: BAE Systems Australia lands RAN sustainment extension]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
