Andrea Thompson
Group Managing Director, Digital Intelligence
Andrea was born and spent her early years in Sunderland, UK, relocating to the United States just prior to secondary school. Andrea graduated from Michigan State University with an accounting degree and has a dual major MBA in Finance and Operations Management.
Andrea’s career has spanned the US and UK, - with positions at Rockwell International Illinois, PACCAR Inc based in Seattle, Leyland Trucks and Rolls Royce. Andrea joined BAE Systems in June 2016 as Senior Vice President F-35. In January 2019, Andrea was promoted to run the Europe & International line of business which is responsible for the design, manufacture and support of Eurofighter Typhoon across the UK, Europe, Oman and Qatar, and support to UK and International Hawk Operations.
Andrea was also the Chair of the Eurofighter Supervisory Board, which is the governing body for the Eurofighter GmbH consortium. In 2019, Andrea was named in the UK Top 100 Most Influential Women in the Engineering Sector. In 2023, Andrea was appointed Group Managing Director, Digital Intelligence and to the executive committee of BAE Systems PLC.
Richard Haycock
National Security and Government Director
Richard runs the National Security and Government Business Unit within BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, having previously run the National Security area for BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. His team supports national security customers with a range of secure software engineering and digital and data solutions, to help protect citizens from harm and increase operational efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness.
Prior to this, Richard ran the Applied Intelligence UK Public Sector business for five years, including looking after relationships and work with the FCO, HMRC and the Home Office. He has also held a number of major account, consultancy and delivery roles across the business with a focus on fraud detection, risk management and anti-crime solutions.
Before joining BAE Systems, Richard spent a number of years working in the London insurance market and a year travelling to various counties around the world.
Rachael Hoyle
Space Director
Rachael Hoyle is Director of Space at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, leading a team of world class space scientists and engineers. Appointed to her role in March 2025, Rachael brings rich and varied experience from an extensive career spanning Engineering, Business Development and Programme Management both in the UK and International markets, with highlights including her significant contribution to a £10Bn Export of UK Defence Goods and Services to the State of Qatar, and delivering a major international project on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence in support of the Government’s prosperity agenda.
In her early career Rachael completed an Aerospace Engineering Apprenticeship with BAE Systems - Air and subsequently went on to receive a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manchester Metropolitan University.
More recently Rachael has overseen Digital Intelligence’s portfolio of digital defence projects, supplying data analytics, software and cyber products and services into a range of UK based Defence customers. In parallel, she held the role Chair of the Board for Eurostep AB, a BAE Systems wholly owned subsidiary based in Sweden.
Rachael is a keen STEM ambassador and a Charity Trustee currently holding the role of President of the Whitworth Engineering Society. In her spare time Rachael volunteers with the Scout Association supporting young people expand their life skills.
James Kemp
Strategy and Integration Director
James joined the BAE Systems Digital Intelligence Leadership Team in February 2024 as Director, Business Integration and more recently he took the role of Director, Strategy and Integration. James leads on business strategy and the integration of delivery for Digital Intelligence, ensuring a clear linkage between our strategy and priorities.
James has worked for BAE Systems for over 30 years in our Air sector across a number of platforms including Eurofighter Typhoon, Hawk and F-35 Lighting II primarily in Project Management, Business Development and Strategy roles since graduating in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bradford. Most recently, James was on the Europe & International Leadership Team where he has was responsible for the development of the overall business strategy, planning and integration.
Bruce Martin
Finance Director
Bruce is the Finance Director of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. Previously, Bruce was Chief Financial Officer of the Submarine Delivery Agency - a post created as part of the carve out of the Submarine business from Defence Equipment and Supplies at the beginning of 2018. Prior to this Bruce held multiple finance positions within the Oil and Gas sector in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America over a period of 25 years culminating as the Finance Director of a Global Integrated Projects business.
He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Communications and Marketing Director
Jenny is Digital Intelligence’s Communications and Marketing Director, responsible for developing and executing the communications and marketing strategy.
Jenny joined BAE Systems in 2015, initially responsible for UK Media activity, coordinating news and national advertising for all UK business divisions, before moving to lead on external comms and marketing content in Applied Intelligence, one of the legacy businesses which formed part of Digital Intelligence. She has held the Communications and Marketing Director position since 2019, providing communications and marketing activities to drive awareness of, and engage customers in the Company’s digital and data capability, housed in Digital Intelligence. Recent highlights include rebranding this area of the business, involving a complete reimagination of the way we present ourselves internally and externally, and the way in which we target customers and stakeholders.
Before joining BAE Systems, Jenny led PR and Media activities at UK-based Aerospace, Defence and Security trade body, ADS Group, including leading communications around the Farnborough International Airshow, and launching and driving engagement in the Aerospace and Defence Growth Partnerships to these sectors, as well as supporting the skills agenda. She has a decade of PR agency experience, working for clients in sectors including defence, engineering and manufacturing, financial services and education.
Jenny holds a Law Degree from Exeter University and a Post-graduate diploma in Public Relations and Journalism from Cardiff University.
Liz Pollard
Chief Operating Officer
Liz is Chief Operating Officer for Digital Intelligence having rejoined the business in 2024 following four years as Managing Director of the group Shared Services Organisation. She is responsible for enabling and implementing the strategy across the business to support our colleagues as they provide world class services to our clients.
Liz has worked for BAE Systems since 2018 joining as as Human Resources Director for Applied Intelligence. Prior to this she spent nearly 20 years working internationally for a major industrial company in senior line and functional positions. She graduated from Queen’s University in Canada with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and later an MBA from Colorado State University.
Daren Smith
International Business Development Director
Daren Smith is Director, International Business Development at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. He is a dedicated and results-oriented leader with experience in national security, telecommunications and defence business. Daren has been at BAE Systems for over 20 years, having spent his early career within the Ministry of Defence. He has undertaken various roles within Defence Security and Information Technology, delivering operational benefit to his customers.
Daren is responsible for all aspects of Digital Intelligence global business, developing products and solutions to provide customers with a digital advantage, and deliver their mission objectives. The International Government business looks to exploit Digital Intelligence’s pedigree in national security, cyber, lawful intercept and big data analytics; solving complex problems, to provide security solutions for trusted partners. Whilst based in the UK, the business has offices in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, the Middle East, and Europe to enable local resources to meet the needs of our customers.
Daren has spent the majority of his career at BAE Systems focussing on Defence intelligence (C5ISR), delivering communications and intelligence systems to a broad range of customers globally. With the growing collaboration between Defence, National Security and Critical National Infrastructure in responding to cyber and other threats he transferred to BAE Systems Applied Intelligence in 2016 and was appointed to the Digital Intelligence leadership team in 2022.
Daren has a Master’s Degree in Advanced Systems Engineering, and believes his business acumen is strongly influenced from being brought up in a small family-owned retail business. He is most excited solving complex system problems and being a catalyst for change.
Annabel Snaith
Defence Director
Annabel is the Director of the Defence business unit, leading a team dedicated to ensuring that the UK armed forces and those of our allies have the tools and insights they need to perform effectively. She took up the role in January 2026 having previously been Chief of Staff to BAE Systems CEO, Charles Woodburn. Prior to that she was the Home Affairs Account Director at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence – responsible for driving business growth, leading multidisciplinary teams and overseeing the delivery of complicated programmes for UK border security.
Annabel has 20 years of delivery experience in a wide range of roles, including time with Accenture and also as the COO of a data-based start-up. Annabel earned her Master’s degree in Engineering from Durham University, and is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course.
Robin Steel
Chief Counsel
Robin is Chief Counsel of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, with responsibility for the Commercial, Legal, Procurement and Security functions.
Prior to joining Digital Intelligence, he spent eight years at BAE Systems Submarines, where he held the role of Chief Counsel from September 2018. Before that, Robin worked for 15 years as a corporate and commercial lawyer for a major national law firm, advising companies across a range of sectors on corporate acquisitions and disposals, and on major commercial contracts and infrastructure projects.
Oliver Waghorn
Business Development Director
Oliver joined the Digital Intelligence leadership team in January 2024 as Business Development and Strategy Director. Oliver is experienced at developing long term, strategic relationships across domestic and international markets.
Previously, Oliver was the Managing Director of Government Relations, International Market Strategy & Business Winning for BAE Systems Plc. In this role, he led on engagement with national and local Government across the EU, NATO and UK and was responsible for the Group’s long-term new business pipeline and business winning. He has also served as Chief of Staff to the Group CEO and Director of Government Relations, External Relations and Policy.
Prior to joining BAE Systems, Oliver ran the defence and security practice of a global public affairs consultancy, served as Special Adviser to the UK Defence Secretary and was an intelligence analyst in the UK MoD.