BUSINESS LEADERS BREAKFAST *online*
Guest Speaker - Nick Whitney MBE
Managing Director Leonardo Helicopters
What is this special Online 'Business Leaders Breakfast'?
The BLB was devised out of our member surveys which consistently indicate a requirement for big-picture insight and interaction with key figures. A top-level networking event, targeted towards business leaders and owners. Headlined with a keynote speaker discussing what they do for the local business community.
The standard Q&A session is also included, allowing you to ask those vital questions that affect you within your business. Please submit your questions before 3pm on Tuesday 9th March, due to the online format of the meeting these will be asked on your behalf. If you would like your question to be asked anonymously please state this in your email.
Nick was appointed Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters (UK) in May 2020. Prior to this, Nick held the position of Director UK Sales & Export Campaigns within the Leonardo Helicopters Division.
His career started at Plessey Marine where he undertook an engineering apprenticeship. He joined Westland Helicopters Engineering Division in 1983 working on a number of different aircraft programmes, reaching the position of Chief Engineer. Nick then moved into Technical Support and Customer Training before his final appointment as Senior Vice President of the UK Government Business Unit, where he was accountable for all business with the UK Ministry of Defence with contracts ranging from aircraft build and modification to long term support contracts.
In 2012 Nick joined Marshall Aerospace as Managing Director of Operational Support Services. He was responsible for aircraft projects and services for both the Ministry of Defence and other international customers, as well as holding responsibility for the activities delivered through Marshall’s Australian and Canadian offices. In this role Nick oversaw a dramatic turnaround in delivery performance leading to much greater availability of the UK C130 fleet as well as much improved relationships with all customers.
He moved to Boeing Defence, Space & Security in January 2015 as Director of Sales & Marketing for the UK and Europe. During his time in this role, Boeing secured orders for P8 Poseidon aircraft, Apache E helicopters, E7 Wedgetail aircraft and was selected for the UK LANCA programme.
Nick attended the first Executive Masters of Defence Administration course at the Royal Military College of Science, graduating in 1994. He also attended the Top Management Programme run by the UK Government Cabinet Office in 2005 and the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in 2009.
In 2003 he was awarded an MBE for services to aviation. He is a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, a freeman of the City of London and a member of the Coachmakers Livery Company.
Event Format
9:00 am - Log on and introduction from Yeovil Chamber President - Dave Woan
9:15 am - Guest Speaker - Nick Whitney
- An overview of Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil, with background from Nick on how he went from an apprentice to Managing Director of the Company;
- The future of Aerospace in the UK;
- Leonardo in the community.
10:00 am - Q&A Session (pre-submitted questions only)
10:30 am - Guest Speaker follow-up and general discussion relating to questions asked
10:45 am - Chamber Announcements
11:00 am - Meeting Close
Please send your questions to hello@yeovilchamber.org
How did this event come about?
Yeovil Chamber delivers over a dozen different networking events each year, ranging from Young Professionals (educational networking events), The Breakfast Circle (a small group focused on business referrals), Joint Chamber Events and Member-Specific Events. Member and non-member feedback shows support for the wide variety of events, and our Press Releases and other communications.
Feedback also indicated that you would like to hear from 'key players' within the business community, with Q&A opportunity.
