Global Aerospace, Defence and Security Industries Leader, PA Consulting
Jeremy Berwick is a senior consulting leader working at the intersection of aerospace, defence, technology and government. He began his career in the Royal Navy, an experience that continues to shape his practical, delivery-focused approach to shaping, delivering and recovering complex defence and security programmes.
Today, Jeremy is a Partner at PA, the global innovation and transformation consultancy, where he leads the firm’s Aerospace, Defence and Security practice. His work focuses on helping organisations translate strategy into execution – particularly on complex aerospace and defence programmes where accelerating pace, increasing industrial capacity and operational confidence are critical.
He has worked across many major UK defence programmes, including combat air, submarines, ships and complex weapons, and is now particularly focused on how defence industry adapts to rapidly growing demand through people-led, technology-enabled transformation. For example, PA works with Edgewing as its digital partner on GCAP to help make this critical programme a leading example of digital acquisition in practice.
Marco is Chief Executive Officer at Edgewing.
Marco joins from Leonardo where he worked since 2006 in a range of roles including Operations and Supply Chain Management, CEO of the services company Leonardo Global Solutions and Chief Procurement & Supply Chain Officer of Leonardo.
He was Chief of Staff to the Leonardo CEO from 2017 to 2018.
Prior to joining Edgewing, Marco was also Managing Director of Leonardo’s Aircraft Division.
Marco is the first CEO of Edgewing, an international joint venture established by BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd to lead the development of a next generation combat aircraft for the Global Combat Air Programme.
Prior to joining the National Wealth Fund, Oliver was CEO of RBS International Holdings, a subsidiary of the NatWest Group, where he was on the Group Executive Committee for over four years. With over 25 years of experience across investment banking, government investments, and strategic leadership, Oliver has deep expertise in managing capital to deliver public value. Previously he served as Chief Executive Officer of UK Financial Investments (UKFI), where he was responsible for managing the government’s shareholdings in RBS, Lloyds and UK Asset Resolution, overseeing complex, high-value shareholdings on behalf of the UK taxpayer.
Earlier in his career, Oliver spent over a decade at Bank of America, latterly as Managing Director of Equity Capital Markets for the UK, Ireland, and South Africa. His career has been defined by a strong track record in financial leadership, capital markets, and public sector engagement.
Catha I Deasy is Global Co-Head of Investment Banking and a member of the Group Executive Committee of Barclays, based in London. He is also a member of the Investment Bank Management Team and is Co-Chair of the Investment Banking Management Team.
Cathal co-leads and sets the strategy for the Investment Banking business across coverage, capital markets origination, mergers & acquisitions, and Corporate Banking.
With over 20 years of experience in investment banking and mergers & acquisitions, Cathal joined Barclays in 2023. Prior to that he served as Global Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions and Co-Head of EMEA Investment Banking and Capital Markets at Credit Suisse. He was also a member of their IBCM Management Committee.
Before that Cathal held a number of investment banking roles at Deutsche Bank.
During his career, Cathal has worked closely with some of the largest and most influential corporate and financial sponsor clients in the market. He has advised companies and played key roles in transactions for, among others, Cinven, Rio Tinto, DuPont, Scout24, and Paysafe. He has deep experience advising boards and senior management teams on strategic matters such as large-scale acquisitions and mergers; portfolio reshaping including divestments and spin-offs; and public M&A including strategic share-holder engagement, defense and activism.
Cathal received a Masters in Business Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Cork, Ireland.
Louis Taylor CBE is Chief Executive Officer of the British Business Bank, the UK’s government-owned economic development bank. He has extensive international and domestic experience across the public and private sectors. Before joining the Bank, Louis served for seven years as Chief Executive of UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, and sat on the Executive Committee and Management Board of the Department for International Trade.
Earlier in his career, Louis held senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank, including Chief Operating Officer of Group Treasury in London and CEO for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and previously worked in investment banking at JP Morgan as well as corporate development roles at Cookson Group and BTR plc.
Louis is a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of the charity Sightsavers. He is also a former Chair of Trustees of the Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons) and former Chair of Governors of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne. He holds an MA in Law from the University of Cambridge. In January 2025 he was awarded a CBE for services to business and trade.
Luis Gallego became International Airlines Group’s chief executive in September 2020, joining from Iberia where he was chairman and chief executive from January 2014 having been appointed chief executive in March 2013.
IAG is the parent company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and LEVEL. It’s one of the world’s largest airline groups with 627 aircraft flying to 285 destinations and carrying around 122 million passengers each year.
During his tenure at Iberia, he turned the airline around as well as improving its efficiency, customer service and brand. Before that, Luis launched Iberia Express, as chief executive from January 2012, making the new Iberia subsidiary one of the most efficient and punctual airlines in Europe.
He joined Iberia Express from Vueling where he was chief operating officer from 2009, when the airline merged with the low-cost carrier Clickair which he co-founded in 2006. He held various posts at Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum between 1997 and 2006.
Born in Madrid, he graduated in aeronautical engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and received an MBA from the IESE Business School.
Mr. Steven Townend is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Company. He was previously Deputy Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer from October 2020 to December 2023. From 2004 to 2020 he held Chief Commercial Officer roles in both Singapore and London.
He joined the Company in January 2001 to establish the company’s first overseas office and develop the Company’s aircraft sales capability.
In addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr. Townend holds a seat on the Board, and is also a member of the Strategy and Budget Committee.
Mr. Townend has 35 years of banking and leasing experience in aviation. Prior to BOC Aviation, he worked for both European and Japanese banks, specialising in advising and financing the aerospace industry.
Mr. Townend graduated from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Banking and Finance.
Samira joined ADS in January 2024 as the Defence Director and is a member of the ADS Group Executive Team. Samira leads on ADS’s work across the Defence sector working closely with the ADS Vice President. Working with and on behalf of our members, Samira provides strategic leadership across a wide range of policies, programmes and capabilities and works with a matrix of stakeholders to ensure the voice of the sector is heard across the Ministry of Defence and other Government departments. Samira also continues her role as the Defence Growth Partnership (DGP) Programme Lead.
