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Stephen Phipson CBE, currently a director in the Office of Counter Terrorism and Security at the Home Office, is to become Head of UKTI Defence and Security Organisation ( UKTI DSO). He will lead all UKTI DSO’s existing business support activity, including rapidly developing export programmes in support of cyber security and disaster relief products and services.
He will take over in February 2015 from Sir Richard Paniguian. Sir Richard joined UKTI DSO in 2008 after a senior career at BP. He was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to the UK defence industry.
Stephen Phipson CBE is an experienced defence and security industry professional. Prior to joining government he held industry positions including President of Smiths Detection, and Vice President for Security at ADS. He has served as Chair of the UKTI DSO Security Sector Advisory Group and founded the Security Resilience Industry Suppliers Community ( RISC).
Lord Livingston, Minister for Trade and Investment, said:
Defence and security exports, including cyber security, play an important part in strengthening the UK economy, supporting jobs, and supporting the defence of our allies. As Head of UKTI DSO, Stephen will continue to ensure world-class companies based in the UK are given every support and will also lead our drive to capitalise on the huge export potential in the security sector.
I would like to thank Sir Richard Paniguian, who has transformed DSO, for his tireless work building links between overseas buyers and defence and security companies. He has been instrumental in securing major defence deals worth £10 billion to the UK and has built up DSO’s support for the growing cyber security sector as well as supporting UK products and services that assist in disaster relief.
UKTI DSO works closely with the Home Office, the Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence and other bodies to promote UK companies’ expertise and connect them to opportunities abroad. Since 2009 to 2010, UKTI DSO has supported UK companies to win over £40 billion of defence and security export business. In 2013 UK defence and security exports, which include cyber security products and services, rose to £13 billion - a 13% increase on 2012.
This is the third recent appointment to the UKTI Executive Team. In December, Nicola Bolton was appointed as Managing Director for Trade, UKTI and Jane Owen, was appointed as UKTI’s Chief Operating Officer. Nicola joined UKTI from the Cabinet Office, following a long career with IBM and Jane was most recently the British Ambassador to Norway and was previously UKTI Director for India.