Smith brings over two decades of experience to the role, having previously held senior positions at industry giants including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and Bombardier Transportation. His background in safety-critical environments is expected to be a primary asset as he assumes oversight of global delivery models and talent development. While stepping into his new responsibilities, Smith will retain his current position as Business Head of the Transportation unit.

CEO Sukamal Banerjee highlighted Smith’s discipline and deep understanding of the firm’s complex engineering landscape as the catalysts for this transition. The appointment follows the departure of Prabhakar Atla, whom the company thanked for his prior contributions. Smith, a PhD graduate from the University of Cambridge, will focus on integrating human expertise with technological advancements to bolster the company's performance-driven operating model across its 30-country footprint.