DroneShield has announced a leadership transition with Angus Bean appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective today.
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead DroneShield during a period of rapid growth and technological advancement. The company is entering its next phase of development and Angus Bean is exceptionally well positioned to guide that journey,” Oleg Vornik said.
“Angus is the right leader for the future.
“Angus led the development of the products that we are best known for in the market, and is the key architect of our current and next generation of technologies. He has built DroneShield’s 350‑plus engineering team and has been a prominent representative of the business to many of our major customers over the years.”
After leading DroneShield through a period of significant growth and global expansion, Oleg Vornik will step down as Chief Executive Officer. At the same time, Peter James will step down as Chairman of the Board following years of leadership and service to the company.
Under their leadership, DroneShield evolved from an emerging technology company into a globally recognised provider of counter-UAS solutions, expanding technology capabilities, customer base, and international footprint. The board and leadership team expressed their deep appreciation for the impact both leaders have had on the company’s development.
Bean has been with DroneShield for over a decade and has played a central role in the development of the company’s core technologies and engineering strategy. As an engineer and long-standing leader, he has helped shape the capabilities that underpin DroneShield’s counter-UxS solutions today.
“I joined DroneShield as its sixth employee and had the privilege of watching the company grow from a small, ambitious team into a global organization of over 500 talented people. I’ve had the opportunity to work side by side with Oleg since those early days, and together with the broader team we’ve built technology that is now supporting customers around the world. I’m honored to step into this role and continue building on that foundation as we advance DroneShield’s mission and innovation,” Bean stated.
DroneShield will remain focused on expanding its global presence and continuing to develop advanced counter-UxS technologies to support defence, government, and critical infrastructure customers worldwide.
After 10 years as DroneShield’s Chairman since before its Initial Public Offering in 2016, James has announced his retirement from the Board and his decision to not stand for re-election at the Company’s Annual General Meeting on 29 May 2026 (AGM).
As part of the Board’s ongoing renewal process, Hamish McLennan will join the Board from 1 May 2026 as Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairman-Elect, and will assume the role of Chairman, at the conclusion of the AGM.
“I have followed DroneShield’s trajectory closely and am looking forward to contributing to the next phase of the Company’s development both within Australia and abroad," McLennan affirmed.
“Strengthening governance, discipline and operational maturity will be central to supporting DroneShield’s continued growth as an Australian technology success story and an important national defence partner during a period of elevated global security challenges.”
“The Company has achieved significant progress under Peter and Oleg’s leadership, and I will work closely with Angus to build on this strong foundation.”
McLennan is an experienced executive and board director across private and public organisations with strong focus on building companies and driving superior corporate governance.
“Hamish is uniquely equipped to lead the Board of DroneShield through this next stage of growth. He has a depth of experience as a director and Chairman of fast-growing technology companies in highly regulated sectors, and the perspective of an experienced global executive. He also has led companies with multinational interests and has substantive cross-border experience," James said.
“Leading DroneShield from pre-IPO through to the ASX200 has been a privilege, as has working closely with Oleg over this period. The opportunities that have been created, not just for our team, but for Australia’s growing defence technology sector, are a legacy that we are proud of.”
McLennan was Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ten Network Holdings until July 2015 and, before that, Executive Vice President, Office of the Chairman, at News Corp. As Chairman of REA, he has overseen growth in the company from approximately a $2 billion to a $20 billion market capitalisation business.
“Having served over 10 years on DroneShield’s board, I believe now is the right time to commence the transition to a new Chair. I am confident that these changes set the Company up for its next stage of growth, with refreshed leadership and new energy to capture the momentum in the rapidly growing market for counter-drone technology," James highlighted.