Navantia appoints new UK CEO after Harland & Wolff acquisition

Donato Martínez has been appointed as chief executive of Navantia UK, succeeding Juan Ignacio de la Cueva, after the Spanish shipbuilding group acquired Harland & Wolff and its four shipyards in the UK.

His experience as Navantia’s chief technology and strategy officer, and his role in leading the Harland & Wolff acquisition, positions him to drive Navantia UK’s growth and support the nation’s industrial base, the shipbuilder said.

Harland & Wolff group owned shipyards in Belfast, Appledore, Arnish and Methil and its own tugboat and marine services vessels. It was at an early stage of a £115M (US$153M) investment programme across its four yards, with a significant portion dedicated for the Belfast shipyard.

These investments will enable Navantia UK to undertake the fleet solid support (FSS) programme for the UK government, constructing three ships to support the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group.

Navantia UK is modernising facilities at Belfast and Appledore to reinforce the UK’s domestic shipbuilding capacities, and will develop Methil and Arnish sites as centres for energy infrastructure to support the UK’s ongoing transition to clean power.

“Our vision for Navantia UK is to establish a world-class defence and energy capability that contributes significantly to the UK’s industrial base,” said Mr Martínez. “By transferring Navantia’s global expertise, digital systems and shipbuilding technology, we are creating sustainable, high-skilled jobs and building resilient supply chains across the country.”