Rolls-Royce deputy axed after just 500 days in job

One of the top bosses at engi- neer Rolls-Royce is stepping down just 15 months after taking up the job.

Chief operating officer Simon Kirby is leaving as part of a major restructuring that could see Rolls quit central London.

The 51-year-old was a controversial appointment as he was previously boss of high- speed rail link HS2, where he has since been dragged into a row over redundancy payments.

His departure comes as Rolls slims down under boss Warren east, who has already axed hundreds of managers.

In an email to staff, east said: ‘It has become clear that we no longer need the group chief operating officer role for which Simon Kirby was recruited in autumn 2016. It is a sign of his professionalism and integrity that he has played a key role in an initiative that has resulted in his own role being eliminated.

‘Regrettably therefore, Simon will be leaving Rolls-Royce at the end of June.’

Kirby was chief executive of HS2 until September 2016. Questions have since been raised over £1.8m in unauthorised redundancy payments.

His departure comes at a turbulent time for Rolls, which is scrambling to deal with problems with its flagship Trent engines. Faster-than- expected deterioration means airlines may have to change routes to stay close to airports, and some planes have been grounded.

The problems are expected to cost Rolls up to £750m when it is trying to ramp up production to meet a bulging backlog and meet stretching cash flow targets to win over City investors.

earlier this year east announced plans to sell much of its marine division, and slim down into three divisions of civil aerospace, defence and power.

He is expected to update the market on the restructuring on June 15. Yesterday, east also told staff the firm needed a ‘smaller, more cost- effective’ London head office, instead of its current plush headquarters in Buckingham Gate.