Aspire Defence Limited appoints new Chair

Aspire Defence Limited (ADL) has appointed Gareth Rhys Williams CB as its new Chair.

Gareth brings an exceptional breadth of leadership experience spanning government, infrastructure, engineering and complex regulated environments. He is also Chair of National Highways, overseeing England’s Strategic Road Network, a workforce of around 7,000 and annual investment of approximately £5.5bn.

From 2016 to 2024, Gareth served as the UK Government’s Chief Commercial Officer, where he led the transformation of the Government Commercial Function. During this period, he integrated and upskilled 6,000 commercial professionals across government, strengthened contract delivery and delivered savings of £3–4bn annually.

He played a central role in major supplier restructurings, particularly following the collapse of Carillion, and was instrumental in the passage of the Procurement Act 2023, reforming the UK’s £400bn annual public procurement regime. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he initiated and led the highly successful Ventilator Challenge.

Gareth Rhys Williams, Chair of Aspire Defence said:

“I am delighted to be joining Aspire Defence Limited as Chair. ADL plays a vital role in supporting Defence through the delivery of high-quality, resilient infrastructure and services, and I look forward to working with the Board, with Allan and with the wider team to build on that strong foundation and continue delivering outstanding support that makes soldiers’ lives better.”

Allan Thomson, CEO of Aspire Defence, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome Gareth as Chair of Aspire Defence Limited. His depth of experience across government, infrastructure and complex operational environments, together with his strong focus on governance and value, will be a significant asset as we continue our mission to deliver first-rate homes and services for soldiers.

“I also want to acknowledge the service and contribution of our previous chair, Arthur Moore, who gave almost 25 years of service to Aspire Defence before his retirement last year, and we are indebted to him for this remarkable commitment.”