Article Posted on : - Jan 23, 2012

NEW DELHI (PTI): Global defence major BAE Systems has appointed Dean McCumiskey as Managing Director and Chief Executive of its operations in India.

Dean is currently Group Chief Information Officer based at the company's London headquarters and will succeed Andrew Gallagher with effect from March 2012, the company said in a release.

McCumiskey will be responsible for leading the next phase of BAE Systems' business development in India, where it has a growing presence through strategic investments in technology sharing and industrial partnerships, the release said.

BAE has formed tow defence venture companies in the country including Defence Land Systems India (DLSI) in partnership with Mahindra and Mahindra, and BAeHAL, a software engineering joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

On his new role, McCumiskey said, "We have built a solid foundation in India and I look forward to broadening and deepening our involvement in the country's growing defence and security industry."

Recent successes of BAE Systems in India include a 59 million pound contract for provision of spares and ground support equipment to the Indian Air Force to aid the Hawk training aircraft operations.

There are ongoing discussions between Indian and the US governments in relation to a possible sale of BAE Systems' ultra-light M777 howitzer in support of the Indian Army's artillery modernisation programme.