Non-Executive Director Appointments
Summary by AI BETAClose X
24 June 2026
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPOINTMENTS
Rolls-Royce Holdings (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69), (the Company) is pleased to announce the following Board appointments:
Gretchen Watkins
Gretchen Watkins will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 July 2026. On joining the Board, Gretchen will be appointed to the Nominations, Culture & Governance Committee and the Safety, Energy Transition & Tech Committee.
Gretchen has over 35 years' experience as a global executive with a track record of leading complex, high-performing organisations within various sectors through transformation and growth. Gretchen currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of The Mosaic Company, which is listed in the US, and previously served on the board of WS Atkins plc.
From May 2018 to July 2025, Gretchen was President of Shell USA Inc. and Executive Vice President of Global Shales. Prior to joining Shell, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Oil. Gretchen holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University.
Dame Anita Frew said: "I'm delighted that Gretchen has decided to join the Board of Rolls-Royce. Gretchen's experience of transformation, safety and sustainability in complex organisations across multiple countries will be of great value to our Board discussions."
Gretchen Watkins added: "I am excited to be joining the Rolls-Royce board during a time of significant transformation. I look forward to contributing to the pursuit of becoming a high performing and more resilient business".
Alessandra Genco
Alessandra Genco will also be joining the Board as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 September 2026. Alessandra will be appointed to the Nominations, Culture & Governance Committee and the Audit Committee upon her appointment to the Board.
Alessandra has more than 25 years of international leadership experience in finance, investment banking, corporate strategy, transformation and governance. Alessandra was Group Chief Financial Officer of Leonardo SpA, a global aerospace, defence and security company, from October 2017 until November 2025. She is currently a Supervisory Board Member of BASF SE where she also chairs the Audit Committee and a Non-Executive Director of Italmobiliare SpA.
Alessandra joined Leonardo SpA in 2006, where she was Head of Investments and Portfolio Evaluation until 2014, then Vice President Group Finance until 2017 when she became Group Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Leonardo SpA, Alessandra was Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman Sachs in New York City. She started her career at Banca di Roma as a risk manager. Alessandra graduated with honours in Economics from the LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome and holds an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Dame Anita Frew said: "My board colleagues and I look forward to welcoming Alessandra to the Board. Alessandra's financial expertise and deep understanding of the aerospace and defence industry will be invaluable to the Board."
Alessandra Genco said: "I am excited to be joining the Rolls-Royce Board, having worked in the industry for twenty years whilst at Leonardo. I look forward to bringing my international corporate, investment banking and board-level expertise to the role. This is a pivotal time of strategic decision-making for the industry and the Company, and I am eager to contribute to the future success of Rolls-Royce."
For further information please contact:
Claire-Marie O'Grady, Chief Governance Officer
governanceteam@rolls-royce.com
Additional information
1. This announcement is made in compliance with the Company's obligations under Listing Rule 6.4.6.
2. In accordance with the Listing Rules, Gretchen Watkins is a Non-Executive Director of The Mosaic Company and Alessandra Genco is a Supervisory Board Member of BASF SE and a Non-Executive Director of Italmobiliare SpA. Alessandra was Group Chief Financial Officer of Leonardo SpA between October 2017 and November 2025. There are no additional matters that would require disclosure under 6.4.8R of the Listing Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority in respect of either of their appointments.
3. As previously disclosed, after completing nine years on the Board, non-executive directors Beverly Goulet and Nick Luff are both due to retire at the 2027 Annual General Meeting of the Company.
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