Chris Cholerton was appointed CEO of Rolls-Royce SMR in March 2023. He brings decades of experience having worked across engineering, programme and operational leadership positions with Rolls-Royce plc.
Chris remains as Group President at Rolls-Royce plc, with accountability for Rolls-Royce SMR and executive responsibility of Rolls-Royce Submarines and the wider Rolls-Royce nuclear endeavour.
Chris was president of the Rolls-Royce Plc Civil Aerospace business from March 2018 and president of the Defence business from 2015 to 2018. From 2012 to 2015 he ran an important part of the Rolls-Royce global supply chain operations, covering manufacturing plants, purchasing and strategy.
Chris joined Rolls-Royce as an undergraduate in 1981 and graduated with a degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and a Fellow of the Association of Project Management.
Peter joins us from Lockheed Martin, where he was the CFO for The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). AWE is responsible for the management and operation of elements of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent capabilities on behalf of the UK Government. Peter previously held various Executive roles, including Merseyrail and Serco Assurance (a technical consulting business) and brings a proven track record of initiating and delivering strategic business change along with a strong financial and commercial capability, matched with a leadership approach based on driving for results through creating high performing teams.
Ruth has more than 35 years’ experience in senior roles within supply chain, procurement, operations and consultancy in a variety of private and public sector businesses and latterly in leading major programmes.
Ruth was a member of both the HS2 Executive Team and Board, as Chief Commercial Officer. She joined HS2 from the Covid-19 Vaccine Task Force where she led the programme to deliver coronavirus vaccines for the UK. Prior to this, she worked in defence for both the Submarine Delivery Agency and Babcock International.
Much of her career has been delivering transformation; leading teams through change. Ruth has a B Eng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering, is a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Fellow of the Institute of Purchasing and Supply.
David Dodd (MEng CEng MIMechE) is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Sheffield and a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years’ experience at Rolls Royce, working in a variety of systems design integration and senior engineering leadership roles across the Naval Nuclear, Civil Nuclear, Aerospace and Strategic Research areas of the company.
David’s previous roles have included: System Design Integration and Function Lead developing the next generation of naval nuclear propulsion plants; Manager of the Low Carbon Technology and subsequently Marine, Energy and Nuclear Strategic Research Centre of Rolls-Royce; Chief Design Engineer within the Rolls-Royce Civil Nuclear business and Sub-System Technical Lead developing the next generation control system design for the UltraFan Aero Engine.
David has been in a key leadership position on the Rolls-Royce SMR programme from its inception in 2015. David became the Chief Design Engineer for the Rolls-Royce SMR during the early phases of work and, following a period in the Aerospace business, returned to the Rolls-Royce SMR Programme in 2019 as Head of Engineering Integration.
David spent 2 years in the Chief Plant Engineer role, accountable for leading the design of the Rolls-Royce SMR across all areas of the power station, before taking up the Engineering Director position in 2024
Helena has nearly 20 years' experience in the regulatory and safety arena of the nuclear industry with companies such as Vattenfall, Westinghouse and Horizon. Helena brings with her a wealth of regulatory experience from different countries and technical areas, as well as UK specific Generic Design Assessments, and will lead on our regulatory and safety agenda.
Rich Wain (MChem, MSc, FRSC) is a Chemistry graduate from the University of Sheffield and also holds an MSc in Nuclear Science and Technology from the University of Manchester. Rich has over 25 years’ experience at Rolls-Royce, including 15 years in senior leadership roles across the Defence, Nuclear, Aerospace and Civil Nuclear areas of the company.
Rich joined Rolls-Royce SMR in 2016, with his previous position that of Chief Development Engineer, in which he was accountable for delivering an extensive programme of rig testing and experimental demonstrators. Rich is responsible for programme delivery across both design activities and project execution.
Sam joins us from Urenco Nuclear Stewardship (UNS), where he was Commercial Director and Board Member for Urenco’s subsidiary waste management, decommissioning and storage businesses. UNS provide services for a range of customers, delivering on operational nuclear licensed sites. Sam previously held commercial leadership roles in Deloitte, NuGen and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). At NuGen, Sam was accountable for development of the Moorside projects key contractual arrangements such as the Contract for Difference opposite UK Government and the EPC contract with its technology provider.
Alastair has 15 years of Corporate Affairs and Government experience across the energy sector, notably with NuGeneration and Neptune Energy. Alastair has a legal background and experience working in Europe, North Africa and the Asia Pacific regions on a diverse set of policy and communications challenges. Alastair is responsible for public affairs, policy, communications, and investor relations.
Peter has been a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright since 1994, having joined the practice in 1985. As the former nuclear energy and water groups lead, he brings decades of practical experience to the challenge of deploying nuclear power generation in the UK and overseas.
Peter is a member of the Technology and Construction Court Solicitors Association, an accredited adjudicator, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a past lecturer at the Centre of Construction Law and Management at Kings College, University of London and sits on the City of London Law Society Construction Law Sub Committee.
Alan has spent 22 years at Rolls-Royce, across several senior roles and sectors including Marine, Defence, Power Systems and Corporate Strategy. Alan is responsible for growth of the Rolls-Royce SMR business covering market and customer development, creation of programme partnerships, and funding of both the Rolls-Royce SMR company as well as the strategy for creating future deployment funding options.
Previously, Clare led HR Business Partnering for Rolls-Royce SMR and has 27 years of experience as an HR practitioner. Before that, Clare worked at Ericsson, American Express and in a range of financial services and research and innovation businesses.
Clare will join the People Directorate at an extremely exciting and pivotal moment for Rolls Royce SMR as it focuses on delivery of its SMR power station in the UK and to countries around the world that are seeking to strengthen their energy security with a long-term, low-carbon solution.
Linda is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant who has worked across audit, advisory and forensic services for over 20 years. She was a member of the Senior Civil Service for the last five years; most recently as the Director of Internal Audit at the Department for Work & Pensions, alongside being an Executive Director of the Government Internal Audit Agency, which provides audit services to over 120 government bodies. Linda spent six years working in the UAE, with three of those providing in-house internal audit to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company, who developed and delivered the first civil nuclear power program within the UAE.
