KENNETH CANNESTRA, who heads Lockheed's aeronautics unit, has become the latest senior executive to announce early retirement ahead of the US aerospace group's merger with Martin Marietta.
Cannestra was to have been in charge of the combined aeronautics division until the end of this year, when he would have reached the mandatory retirement age of 65. The job will instead go to James ("Micky") Blackwell, who headed the F-22 advanced tactical fighter project.
Lockheed says that Cannestra's decision was taken to ensure continuity of leadership.
Gordon England, president of Lockheed's Fort Worth division recently surprised colleagues, with the announcement that he will retire in May, at the age of 57.
Lockheed and Martin Marietta have admitted that the number of senior retirements due among their respective management has helped to ease the process of combining the groups.
Source: Flight International
