OUR DIRECTORs
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Phil Swash, Chairman
Phil has over 25 years’ experience in global senior leadership, transformation and P&L roles, with expertise in aerostructures, automotive, off-highway, global industrial operations, and lean and digital manufacturing.
Earlier in his career, Phil led the manufacturing launch of the largest commercial aircraft wings then produced and was ultimately responsible for all Airbus Wing manufacturing. He also led the deployment of lean manufacturing across Airbus’ European operations. Phil then joined GKN where he held various chief executive and board positions.
As CEO of GKN’s largest division, Phil had full autonomy and P&L responsibility for the £5.4bn global business. He led a global re-structuring of the business and successfully re-shaped and re-focused product research & development which led to the company capturing over 40% market share, in a hugely competitive space. As a GKN Board Director, Phil played a crucial role during the Melrose take-over and, crucially, the subsequent value enhancement which was secured for GKN shareholders.
Robert Kledal, Chief Executive Officer
Robert was appointed CEO in 2022. He has over 30 years' experience in high profile roles on a global scale, including CEO at Wrist Ship Supply for over nine years and several senior positions at Moeller-Maersk Group.
In both roles, Robert's priorities were strong leadership, company culture, and business model innovation, resulting in exponential business results. Robert has also served his country in the Army as a Sergeant.
He's achieved several business and digital strategy qualifications via the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Copenhagen Business School and others.
In addition to his role as CEO of Survitec, Robert is also chairmanship of Copenhagen Maritime Greentech A/S.
Jean-François, Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jean-François joined Survitec in January 2023. Jean-François is responsible for leading the Finance function and plays an important role in shaping and implementing our strategic plan.
He has over 25 years of experience in senior Finance positions across a variety of industries. He was previously Group CFO at ADB Safegate, an airport equipment manufacturer and Chassis Brakes International, an automotive supplier. He’s also held CFO positions at SEVES and CMA CGM, a container shipping company.
He graduated from Sciences Po Paris and École Nationale d'Administration (ENA).
Tracie Greenhalgh FCIPD, Chief People and Culture Officer
Based in the UK, Tracie brings over three decades of people and senior leadership experience spanning diverse sectors. She has supported high-growth and fast-paced organisations through transformation whilst collaboratively driving innovation, continuous improvement, and fostering high-performing, values & customer-centric cultures.
Before joining Survitec, Tracie was Group Chief People Officer for Arden University, the UK’s fastest-growing, privately owned digital university. She has also held several senior HR roles with companies, including RS Components, an FTSE 100 global, multi-channel manufacturer and provider of industrial and electronic products, and Ciber, an international, IT consulting organisation.
A qualified Executive Coach, Tracie has a clear ‘people first’ approach and is passionate about empowering individuals, teams and businesses to achieve their full potential.
Julian Henley-Price, Group General Council
Julian was appointed Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Survitec in November 2019. In addition to in-house skills, he has considerable international experience and has handled a wide range of legal and business situations in a variety of industries. Following qualification as a barrister in 1994, Julian held in-house positions at Rhône-Poulenc, British American Tobacco, GE and Baltimore Technologies. Prior to joining Survitec, he was the General Counsel and Company Secretary of London Stock Exchange listed Thalassa Holdings, a diversified holding company.
Julian holds law degrees from King’s College London and Université de Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne, as well as an MBA from London Business School.
Finn Lende-Harung, Chief Commercial Officer
Finn joined Survitec in May 2017 following the merger with Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, where he started in 2012. He’s now Director of Commercial Operations at Survitec and responsible for product category management, pricing & analytics, sales operations, Survitec Viscom and marketing.
Finn is structured, analytical and commercially minded. He has a Master of Science in business from the Norwegian School of Economics and a master's degree in International Management from CEMS, the Global Alliance in Management Education.
BeiBei Qiu, Marine Executive Managing Director, APAC & MEA
Beibei joined Survitec in 2018 as General Manager of Great China before being promoted to Marine Managing Director of APAC & MEA in 2023.
Before her role at Survitec, Beibei worked for several industry-leading brands, including Maersk and Wartsila. She holds a Bachelor of Economics from the Avans University of Applied Science.
Beibei is committed to doing what’s right for her colleagues and customers. Beibei was voted by her colleagues as Survitec’s most influential employee in the 2022 employee engagement survey.
Eric Herman, Marine Executive Managing Director, EUROPE
Eric joined Survitec in September 2023 as Executive Managing Director for the Survitec Marine Business Unit in Europe.
Based in our Rotterdam office, Eric comes with a very experienced background. He held Chief Commercial Officer roles for Damco and Safmarine Container Lines. Most recently, he was Managing Director at a recycling distribution business with full P&L and cash responsibility. He’s also held numerous consultancy roles, supporting organisations to become the best versions of themselves.
Eric works to challenge the status quo by being bold in his thinking whilst being humble and respectful in his engagement with others. He has a Master of Science, Material Science & Engineering from Delft University of Technology.
Stephan Leijen, Marine Executive Managing Director, AMERICAS
Stephan joined Survitec in 2013, undertaking various roles during his over seven-year tenure, including Operations Director and Service Director. He re-joined the business in 2023 to lead the marine business unit for the Americas region.
Stephan is a highly skilled senior leader with extensive maritime and aviation experience and exceptional product knowledge.
Before joining Survitec, Stephan has been running his business, BeamSat, which specialises in the maritime satellite communications industry.
Stephan obtained a Bachelor of Marine Engineering in The Netherlands and has lived in various parts of the world throughout his career.
Dominic (Dom) Cartwright, Executive Managing Director, A&D
Dom joined Survitec in October 2023 as Executive Managing Director for the Survitec Aerospace and Defence business, based in our Ellesmere Port facility.
Dom is an Aeronautical Engineer by discipline and has held senior positions in manufacturing and operations, engineering, programme management and business development.
He has led two businesses through turnaround phases, secured financing, and delivered commercial restructuring, engineering roadmaps, manufacturing, and operational transformations.
He's worked for large Aerospace companies, including Lucas, TRW, Goodrich-UTC and Smiths-GE. He was CEO at Gardner Aerospace, operating sixteen factories in five countries, growing through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.
Claude Sada, Chief Operating Officer, Marine
Claude was appointed Survitec Marine Chief Operating Officer (COO) in April 2019, before becoming Managing Director in 2022. He’s now back in his role as COO for the Marine Business Units at Survitec.
Before his role at Survitec, Claude held leadership positions within significant organisations, including Eaton Corporation, Hertz Rent a Car, Meadwestvaco (Now Westrock) and Berendsen Plc.
Claude studied at the University of Geneva, where he received a master’s degree in Supply Chain and Operations Management.
Dan Lund, Managing Director, Wearables & Leisure
Dan joined Survitec in 2021 following the acquisition of Hansen Protection, where he started as Head of Business Development in 2019 and before being made Chief Financial Officer in 2020.
He's now Managing Director for the Wearables & Leisure Business Unit at Survitec and responsible for market-leading brands, including Hansen Protection, Crewsaver, Survitec HeliPPE and Lyngsøe Rainwear. He also leads Survitec's offshore PPE rental solution entities.
Dan holds an MSc in Finance from Imperial College London and a Bachelor in Finance from BI Norwegian Business School.