Chris Forrest Email & Phone Number

Mclean, Virginia, US

• Providing critical capabilities to our Defense & Security Forces in the U.S. and abroad through a diverse solution set that includes autonomous systems & integration for military vehicles, explosive ordinance disposal.
• Re-organized the business unit and implemented operational and financial governance processes and tools to support growth plan.
• Created a revised product road map and associated strategic plan to provide guidance and focus to achieve a 5 year plan with double digit revenue growth and year-on-year increase in profit margin.
• Implementing lean manufacturing and operational efficiencies in support of a July 2021 award from the U.S. Army for the full rate production of EOD robots. Achieved record production output in order to exceed customer.
• Increased year-on-year revenue by 47% and returned business unit to profitability
• Developed market expansion strategies resulting in the award of initial contracts for hybrid electric propulsion in tracked vehicles.

Farnborough, Hampshire, GB

• Provide operational leadership across the £1.1bn QinetiQ Group plc businesses in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Belgium, and the Middle East. Drive improved agility, efficiency and.
• Direct responsibility for the safe and efficient operation of over 30 test & evaluation ranges and facilities in support of the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.
• Phased implementation of a consistent global operating model across the group operating companies. Emphasis on common operating principles tailored to local execution.
• Represented global operations on the Sustainability Steering Committee in developing a roadmap to achieving Net Carbon Zero.
• Managed a Task Force charged with developing a program that allows for the global sharing of technical resources and capabilities to increase local sovereign capabilities.

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

• Provide strategic direction and management for the leading provider of communications and information systems technology for airports around the globe. Manage the execution of the growth plan for a business with annual.
• Created a revised product road map and associated strategic plan to achieve accelerated annual revenue growth of 11% over 5 years in a market with a 6% CAGR. Presented plan to CEO and Board of Directors resulting in.
• Developed strategic and financial plan for the launch of the Collins UAS ground infrastructure and software platform solutions. These include Critical Flight Support and Operations Management applications for Unmanned.
• Launched a series of innovative, new products including biometrics enabled self-service passenger facilitation for a more secure and efficient airport passenger flow and cloud native passenger processing applications.
• Completed the due diligence, acquisition and integration of Pulse.aero, a market leading self-service bag drop pioneer and filling a portfolio gap in the Airports solution line.
• Completed a technology modernization of Rio de Janeiro airport under intense schedule pressure in time for the 2016 summer Olympics.

• After acquisition by The Carlyle Group in 2007, repatriated back to the U.S. to support the execution and divestment strategy of the private equity ownership.
• Sale side support of the successful divestiture of the Aerospace and Defense business to Booz Allen Hamilton and the Commercial Aviation business to Rockwell Collins worth over $1.5B.
• Led creation of Teasers and Confidential Information Memorandums as well as management presentation and due diligence support
• Drove completion of Skybuy software program that been plagued with development and schedule issues. Managed successful divestiture of business to Gate Gourmet.
• Developed business plan and launch strategy for CabinConnect, ARINC’s entry into the on board in-flight entertainment & connectivity (IFEC) solution.
• Oversaw a wholly owned subsidiary of ARINC that is the world’s leading provider of managed IT services and support for the aviation industry. Responsible for the management of all functions of an organization.

Annapolis, MD, US

• Increased responsibility to P&L management of a business unit providing next generation information & communication technology products and solutions to the aviation industry with annual revenues of $40M. Lead an.
• Increased profitability $800k in 2007 and an additional increase of $1.1M in 2008 by implementing a wide spread profitability improvement program.
• Successfully concluded negotiations with London Heathrow Airport, Milan Linate and Malpensa airports, Emirates Airlines, New Doha International Airport, and Dubai Terminal 3 for contracts worth in total $150M USD.
• Implemented Channel Partner program that utilizes smaller, local vendors to deploy and maintain ARINC products and solutions. Completed strategic agreement with Italian partner resulting in penetration of airport.
• Instituted Key Account Management program to improve customer communication and service support. Program includes quarterly Focus Groups with attendance of 20+ executives from EMEA airlines and airports to discuss.
• Board of Directors for AeroMobile joint venture.

Annapolis, MD, US

• Spearheaded the financial turnaround of an international operating division from a history of losses to a profitable, expanding organization. Managed the division’s business operations group that included Financial.
• Served as catalyst in reversing a division with $50M in annual revenue and $4M in operating losses into one with $100M in revenue and $9M in operating profit within 4 years.
• Set up and maintained organizational entities and banking arrangements in multiple countries throughout the European, Middle Eastern, and African region.
• Successfully completed formation of AeroMobile joint venture with a Norwegian telecommunications company to provide in-flight mobile phone services to the airline industry and sat as a Board Director.
• Headed proposal review team to ensure pricing, proposal text, and contractual terms are properly prepared and that project risks are identified with acceptable mitigation plans. Proposal win rate increased from 25% to.
• Secured bank financing of $25M USD for AeroMobile joint venture that included fixed term debt, working capital revolver, and transaction services.

• Promoted through the financial ranks from entry level Financial Analyst to Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis in both the US Department of Defense and commercial aviation industries.
• Responsibilities included strategic planning support, financial reporting, cost control, and ensuring compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations and GAAP.
• Prepared annual DCAA Forward Pricing Package for use on U.S. government proposals.
• Implemented Earned Value process for large Fixed Price development programs to better monitor project progress and potential costs and schedule issues.
• Led financial due diligence and valuation negotiations in a successful acquisition of a rail control software company. Prepared business plan that resulted in acquisition approval from corporate Board of Directors.
• Provided U.S. defense contractor competitor analysis presented to executive management for incorporation into the corporate strategy review.

Mba, Finance

Bachelor Of Science, Business Administration

Mechanical Engineering