13th Apr 2006 13:45
Cobham PLC13 April 2006 DEATH OF SIR MICHAEL COBHAM Sir Michael Cobham, Life President of Cobham plc, passed away at his Hampshirehome last night, aged 79, following a long illness. Sir Michael was ChiefExecutive of the organisation from 1969 to 1992, and Chairman from 1969 to 1995. Sir Michael joined the organisation in 1944 as personal assistant to the GeneralManager of Flight Refuelling Limited. In a career spanning more than 60 years,his commitment, drive and vision were instrumental in the development of Cobhamplc, which is now the UK's 125th largest quoted company with a turnover of morethan £1bn and 10,000 employees on five continents. In addition to his career with the organisation, Sir Michael was an active avalued contributor to the UK aerospace industry. His appointments includedPresidency of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), Vice Presidentof the Air League and Assistant to the Court of the Guild of Air Pilots andNavigators (GAPAN). More local involvements in recent years embraced beingPresident of the Christchurch Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)and also a Trustee of the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. His colleagues on the Board of Cobham plc and all employees both past andpresent extend their thoughts and deepest sympathy to Lady Nadine Cobham anddaughter Camilla on their sad loss. -----------Sir Michael first joined Flight Refuelling Ltd in 1944 after leaving the LondonSchool of Economics to serve as personal assistant to the company's GeneralManager. After National Service in the Royal Navy, he went on to study law at CambridgeUniversity before returning to join the Flight Refuelling Ltd Board in 1952.Although keen to follow a career at the Bar, his father, Sir Alan Cobham,persuaded him that his future, indeed his duty, lay closer to home and he wasduly appointed Contracts Manager in 1955. By this time, Flight Refuelling (Holdings) Ltd had been formed with, initially,Flight Refuelling Ltd as its sole asset but with company growth and productdiversification now gathering pace, Michael Cobham was given acceleratedindustrial and financial training before returning to Flight Refuelling Ltd'sTarrant Rushton base as Deputy Managing Director and Chief Executive in the Spring of 1961. Thesixties saw him heavily involved with not only furthering the company's airrefuelling and fuel system component business, but also establishing a strongpresence in the industrial nuclear, aerial target and aircraft overhaul andmodification fields. When Sir Alan retired in 1969, Michael, now based at the new Wimborne factorysite, became Chairman and Managing Director. He retained those positions as theembryonic group of companies within FR Group plc (formed in 1985), and which, in1994, became Cobham plc, expanded rapidly to face the evolving nature of theaerospace and defence industries. Awarded a knighthood in 1995, Sir Michaelremained immensely proud of the role played by his organisation during theFalklands Conflict. Alongside his professional appointments which included Presidency of the Societyof British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), Vice President of the Air League andAssistant to the Court of the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators (GAPAN), hefound great pleasure in yachting when his busy life allowed. More localinvolvements in recent years embraced being President of the Christchurch Branchof the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) and also a Trustee of the Fleet Air ArmMuseum at Yeovilton. Sir Michael Cobham was a generous supporter of Southamptonand Bournemouth Universities, receiving a Doctor of Engineering from BournemouthUniversity in 1994. ENQUIRIESCobham plc +44 (0) 1202 882020Gordon Page, ChairmanAllan Cook, Chief Executive Weber Shandwick Square Mile +44 (0) 20 7067 0746Kirsty Raper/Helen Thomas This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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