New President for Society of Maritime Industries

Mr Archie Bethel CBE has succeeded Mr Alan Johnston CBE as Honorary President of the Society of Maritime Industries at the Society's Board meeting today. Archie Bethel is Divisional Chief Executive of Babcock International Group plc's marine and technology division.

In welcoming Archie Bethel to his role, the Society's Chairman, Peter French said "His company is at the centre of maritime engineering in the UK and I know he will be an excellent ambassador for the Society - both in promoting its aims and objectives and in ensuring a greater understanding of the importance of this crucial sector of British industry to the nation's economy."

Archie Bethel joined Babcock in January 2004 and was appointed Chief Executive of Marine on its formation in mid June 2007. Babcock is a Naval Warship and Submarine engineering business and employs over 9,000 people at locations around the UK including Devonport, Clyde (Faslane), Rosyth and Bristol. The company also provides engineering support services to the navies of Canada and Australia. Archie is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a graduate of the University of Strathclyde (BSc, MBA, DSc). He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) and a Vice President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.