LONDON (ShareCast) - Mike Turner, chief executive of weapons and aerospace giant BAE Systems, is to take over as chairman of support services group Babcock when Gordon Campbell stands down later this year.

Turner has strong links with Babcock having previously been a non-executive director for nine years. He joins the support services group on1 June and takes up the chair on 1 November. Babcock and BAE Systems recently joined forces as part of the consortium to build two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.

Gordon Campbell said: "A successful company can be judged not only by its financial performance and return to shareholders, but also by its ability to provide orderly and timely succession. With this in mind, I have decided to stand down later this year, and we have been fortunate to persuade Mike Turner to succeed me as non-executive chairman."

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