Landing business opportunities in key government procurement programs such as the Navy’s Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program and growing local operations are among the priorities of the head of Raytheon International Inc. Canada.
“My big focus is to grow locally in terms of Canadian employment, Canadian jobs, and Canadian sustainment, but also to provide reach-back,” Mark Nicol, told Vanguard. “…I think it is very important for Raytheon to be involved in the Canadian Surface Combatant program. We have a very strong pedigree as the best provider of naval missiles throughout the world…the Canadian navy still has Raytheon missiles onboard its ships.”
Nicol, who was at the recently concluded Cansec 2016 conference in Ottawa, was named the president of the global defence technology provider’s Canadian arm late last year. He has been with the company for 14 years and served most recently as program director for the Standard Missiles I and II projects.
Nicol joined Raytheon back in 2001 as program manager for the Japan Phalanx Program. Since then, he has been deputy director of the Phalanx international business, regional director for Asia Pacific and India for missile systems business development and program director for the Stinger missile. Nicol also developed the naval weapons business in Australia, New Zealand, and India for Raytheon Australia.
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A graduate of the Royal Australia Naval College, Nicol retired from the Royal Australian Navy as a commander after a career as a principal warfare officer specializing in anti-air warfare.
As president of Raytheon International Inc. Canada, Nicol will be based in Ottawa.
“Raytheon has a long heritage of in-country operations and trusted partnerships, providing Canada with the best solutions at the best value,” said Thomas Vecchiolla, president of Raytheon Internation, Inc. “With a proven international business track record, Mark is the right leader to serve at the point most focused on our Canadian customers, upholding our commitments and helping our most trusted ally meet today’s evolving mission requirements.”
Nicol said Raytheon has more than 800 Canadian suppliers.
“It will be stupid not to use that network, if not increase that number moving forward,” he said.
While the company does a lot of sustainment in Canada for programs, he said he also sees a lot of opportunities to “reach back” to other Raytheon operations abroad and see what they can contribute to the Canadian operations.
Numerous Canadian defense companies are eyeing the multi-billion-dollar CSC program. The program was first introduced by the Harper government when it sought to replace the Navy’s 12 patrol frigates with 15 modern warships. The estimated of the CS is $26 billion.
