Smiths appoints president for Smiths Interconnect division

SMITHS Group plc has appointed Ralph L. Phillips President of Smiths Interconnect with immediate effect. Ralph, who had been acting president since May, has been appointed following a search process that included external and internal candidates.

Smiths Interconnect designs and manufactures specialised electronic and radio frequency products primarily for the global wireless telecommunications, aerospace and defence markets. It is headquartered in the US with around 3,100 employees located in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, China, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Smiths Interconnect is expanding geographically and broadening its technology offering. As part of this strategy, it recently acquired Allrizon and Triasx – based in China and Australia respectively – that design and manufacture radio frequency filters and related products.

Philip Bowman, Chief Executive, Smiths Group said: “Smiths Interconnect has good opportunities for growth. I am delighted to appoint Ralph to this role and wish him every success in taking the business to the next stage of its development.”

Ralph Phillips has broad experience in the aerospace and defence markets and previously led Smiths Interconnect’s microwave sub-systems technology group. He joined Smiths Interconnect when TECOM Industries – which designs and manufactures antennas and related systems – was acquired by Smiths in 2004. He had started at TECOM in November 2001 having spent the previous 19 years with Northrop Grumman, Litton Industries and Teledyne Systems in increasingly senior positions in engineering, program management, business development and general management.

Ralph has a BSc in Civil Engineering from Stanford University and a range of qualifications in finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and in management from the Harvard Business School. He lives with his wife and three children in Oak Park, California.

ENDS