Dr Andrew Jupp (Photo credit: Atomic Weapons Establishment)
Andrew Jupp, Managing Director at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), has stepped down from the top job at the UK's Trident nuclear weapons factory.
In a letter to the AWE Local Liaison Committee John McLachlan, Chairman of AWE Management Ltd, informed committee members that, following discussions with the company's Board of Directors about the “future leadership and direction of the organisation”, Dr Jupp had decided that “the time is right to make way for a new appointee to lead AWE through the next phase of change”.
AWE insists that Dr Jupp's exit has nothing to do with AWE's poor regulatory performance over recent years, and that he has stepped down because “the time is right for a new leadership approach”.
Dr Jupp took over the role of Managing Director of AWE in late 2010 after the company's previous Chief Executive, Robin McGill, left after less than two years in the post. He has worked for nearly thirty years at AWE, starting out as a health physicist in 1985 and spending nine years as a member of the company's executive team. Despite stepping down as Managing Director Dr Jupp will “maintain his connection” with AWE, providing “consultancy support” on specific projects.
Rob Fletcher, Director, Commercial at AWE, has been appointed as Acting Managing Director until a successor to Dr Jupp has been appointed. According to AWE, potential candidates for the post of Managing Director have been identified and interviews are currently taking place. Both the Ministry of Defence and AWE's shareholder companies – Serco, Jacobs Engineering, and Lockheed Martin – will be consulted on the appointment.
Copies of AWE's press statements on Dr Jupp's resignation and the letter notifying the Local Liaison Committee of the news are available to download here: