Runners and riders in the race for top job

A FTSE100 defence chief, a nuclear strategist and the head of a James Bondstyle tech company could be among the possible replacements for longtime Rolls-Royce boss Warren East.

Top of Anita Frew’s list will be BAE Systems’ boss Charles Woodburn. He would be a coup for Rolls if it does indeed want to place more of an emphasis on its defence work.

But it will be mindful that Woodburn received a pay rise last year to stop him moving to another unnamed British firm.

Bosses may also be eyeing up Ultra Electronics head Simon Pryce and Meggitt’s lead Tony Wood. Both companies are in the process of being taken over by US bidders, Ultra in a £2.6bn from Advent International and Meggitt a £6.3bn swoop from rival ParkerHannifin. Price and Wood could well be back in the jobs market this year if their deals go through so watch this space.

Alternatively, Qinetiq chief Steve Wadey – who has led the hi-tech firm said to have been the inspiration for Q in James Bond since 2015 – could be in the mix.

Or it could go for gruff Scotsman Archie Bethel, the former head of defence group Babcock International, though his reputation has been hit by writedowns at Babcock since he left.

A left-field option could be Lynsey Valentine (pictured top), strategy director at Cavendish Nuclear, if it wants to bolster its work in the nuclear sphere.

Or Rolls might plump for an insider. Two prime candidates are Panos Kakoullis, the finance boss, and Tom Bell, defence head and chief executive of Rolls-Royce North America.