Hanwha Aerospace has appointed Ben Hudson as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the company’s defence operations in Europe and the UK. Hudson, who concurrently serves as CEO of Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), will oversee Hanwha’s existing operations across the region while spearheading the company’s future growth opportunities in Europe and the UK.
“I am honoured to join our European and UK defence leadership team at such a pivotal moment for both our company and our European partners,” Hudson said. “Hanwha’s long-term vision starts at the very top of the company, with a drive to partner with our customers and create enduring sovereign capabilities that can deliver solutions to the defence and security challenges faced by nations now and into the future.”
Prior to joining Hanwha, Hudson has held senior executive roles with BAE Systems, Rheinmetall and General Dynamics, including 15 years working for these companies in Switzerland, Germany and the UK. He is a mechanical engineer with an MBA from London Business School, served as an Officer in the Australian Army, including operational service in East Timor, and holds both British and Australian citizenship.
“As Hanwha looks to further globalise our business, we are very pleased to appoint Ben—who brings deep experience across European defence markets—to this key role leading our business in Europe and the UK,” President and CEO of Hanwha Global Defense, Michael Coulter, stated.
Hudson’s appointment has come as Hanwha accelerates its strategic expansion in Europe, strengthening its position as a trusted defence partner capable of delivering localised, interoperable, and rapid capability solutions to NATO member states and European allies. Hanwha has programs already underway in several countries, such as Poland, Romania, Norway, Finland and Estonia.
“Europe represents a vital part of Hanwha’s long-term, multi-domestic strategy, where we seek not only to expand our footprint, but also to invest in sovereign capacity and industrial resilience in partnership with local stakeholders,” Coulter affirmed. “Hanwha is fully committed to working closely with our European partners for national priorities, and this appointment marks the beginning of the next phase of our journey—one grounded in trust, long-term collaboration, and shared security goals.”