Aerospace and defence executives honoured by Cranfield
Above: (left to right) Baroness Young of Old Scone, Katherine Bennett CBE and Professor Sir Peter Gregson.
In a ceremony earlier today, both Katherine Bennett CBE, Senior Vice President, Airbus, and Victor Chavez CBE, Chief Executive, Thales UK, both received honorary doctorates from Cranfield, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defence universities.
Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, said: “I’m delighted that we are honouring both Katherine and Victor today. As leaders in their fields, they are ensuring that the UK aerospace and defence industries are global leaders.”
Katherine Bennett CBE, Senior Vice President, Airbus, said: “This honour came as a huge surprise to me, having lived down the road from Cranfield and supported my husband during his MBA, it never crossed my mind I would receive such an invitation. Science and technology was never my forte but I have never failed to be impressed by those who have the passion, and those who teach it. I am proud to be associated with such excellence as Cranfield.”
Above: (left to right) Baroness Young of Old Scone, Victor Chavez CBE and Professor Sir Peter Gregson.
Victor Chavez CBE, Chief Executive of Thales UK, said: “I am deeply honoured to be awarded this honorary degree by Cranfield University. Having spent the majority of my career working in the fields of aerospace and defence -areas in which Cranfield excels on a global basis - it is truly humbling to be recognised in this way. Thales’ relationship with Cranfield stretches back many years and continues to grow and evolve; encompassing a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines, and is testament to the University’s ability to maintain its position at the forefront of engineering in an ever-changing world.”
