Hanwha names Defense Australia head to lead European, UK defense business

CEO Ben Hudson of Hanwha Aerospace's Europe and the United Kingdom defense business / Courtesy of Hanwha Aerospace

Hanwha Aerospace has named Ben Hudson as CEO to spearhead the company’s defense operations in Europe and the United Kingdom.

Hudson, who currently serves as CEO of Hanwha Defense Australia, will also oversee the company’s existing operations across the region while spearheading its future growth opportunities in Europe and the U.K.

“I am honored to join our European and the U.K. defense leadership team at such a pivotal moment for both our company and our European partners,” the CEO said in a release.

“Hanwha’s long-term vision starts at the very top of the company, with a drive to partner with our customers and create enduring sovereign capabilities that can deliver solutions to the defense and security challenges faced by nations now and into the future.”

Prior to joining Hanwha, Hudson served senior executive roles at global aerospace and arms manufacturing companies, including BAE Systems, Rheinmetall and General Dynamics. He is a mechanical engineer with an MBA from London Business School, and previously served as an officer in the Australian Army with operational experience in East Timor. He holds both British and Australian citizenship.

His appointment comes as Hanwha accelerates its strategic expansion in Europe, strengthening its position as a trusted defense partner capable of delivering localized, interoperable and rapid capability solutions to NATO member states and European countries.

With programs already underway in several countries, including Poland, Romania, Norway, Finland and Estonia, Hanwha seeks to build an industrial footprint across Europe to invest in sustainable defense ecosystems.

“Europe represents a vital part of Hanwha’s long-term and multidomestic strategy, where we seek not only to expand our footprint, but also to invest in sovereign capacity and industrial resilience in partnership with local stakeholders,” said Michael Coulter, president and CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, which oversees all of the company's global business campaigns.