Rupert Pearce has been appointed UK National Armaments Director (NAD).

The NAD is a critical role that will shape the future of UK Defence as part of the biggest defence reforms for more than 50 years – speeding up decisions, tackling waste and improving outcomes for our armed forces.

Directly accountable to Defence Secretary John Healey and a key pillar of the Strategic Defence Review, the NAD will lead the NAD Group to deliver the national arsenal needed for the UK Armed Forces to execute defence operations demanded by the current global threat picture.

Rupert brings extensive leadership experience from the private sector, including 16 years at FTSE100 satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat, where he served as CEO for nine years.

He will take up the role on October 14 on a five-year fixed term contract with Andy Start, who has been establishing the NAD Group over the past six months in an interim capacity, supporting him for the first few months of his tenure.

Rupert has a proven track record of managing large-scale organisations, driving innovation and building international partnerships, making him ideally suited to lead the transformation of how defence works with industry to deliver for UK Armed Forces.

His venture capital experience will bolster his role working with UK Defence Innovation – one of the new organisations set up as part of the NAD Group –  supporting firms of all sizes to take state-of-the-art technology from the drawing board to the production line.

The NAD Group, which includes delivery agencies of the MOD included DE&S, will change how defence partners with industry to grow the UK economy, create jobs across the country and deliver UK exports. This will drive economic growth while bolstering national security – a foundation of the government’s Plan for Change.

UK NAD Rupert Pearce said: “I am deeply honoured to be appointed as the UK’s National Armaments Director. It is vital that our armed forces have cutting-edge capabilities at their disposal to project an effective deterrent, both alone and in conjunction with NATO and our other allies.

“To deliver this, we will transform MOD’s relationship with its industrial partners so that the UK defence industry becomes a strategic asset, innovating at wartime pace and driving economic growth. I look forward to working with all my new stakeholders to deliver on this vision.”

The NAD will be responsible for:

• Delivering the capabilities required from industry to execute the defence plans and operations demanded by the new era
• Delivering the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS)
• Ensuring a resilient supply chain and the required readiness of the national ‘arsenal’
• Leading on UK defence exports and acquisition reform
• Speeding up procurement and reducing duplication while working closely with wider government, industry, academia and international partners to deploy best practice and investment

The appointment comes at a crucial time, following the Prime Minister’s commitment to the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, with spending rising to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 and an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament.

The role will see Rupert implement the DIS and oversee a single new investment budget, consolidating eight separate procurement budgets across the NAD Group. This streamlined approach aims to cut procurement waste and duplication while boosting NATO interoperability and ensuring a resilient supply chain.

Rupert’s background includes early career experience as a lawyer before moving into the technology and telecommunications sector. Beyond his tenure at Inmarsat, he served as CEO of innovative energy company Highview Power and worked as a Venture Partner for Columbia Capital, a technology venture capital firm.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “The National Armaments Director will be a cornerstone of defence reform, positioning the UK to meet evolving global threats whilst making defence an engine for growth in communities across the nation.

“Rupert is an exceptional leader with extensive experience in high-value budgets, effective reform, and delivery on the global stage. He will ensure our forces have the equipment they need, on time and on budget.

“The threat we face is growing; this is a serious appointment to spearhead the national arsenal and help make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.”