Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) has announced the appointment of Ciara Middlehurst and Ben Whittard as interim joint CEOs.

They succeed Seth Kybird who will be joining Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) as interim CEO on an 18-month secondment from NTS.

Ben and Ciara will be responsible for driving NTS’s business forward by continuing to deliver high-quality operations for customers in the nuclear and wider transport and logistics sectors, while also looking to expand its offering into new markets.

NTS Chair, Wanda Goldwag said: “I’m delighted that Ben and Ciara have agreed to become joint CEOs of NTS. They both have strong leadership track records and a wealth of knowledge and experience. Crucially, they both know NTS well and are committed to driving the future success of the organisation.

“I would like to thank Seth Kybird for his excellent leadership as CEO of NTS. He has been instrumental in developing Nuclear Transport Solutions into the world-leading capability it is today.”

Ciara Middlehurst is currently NTS’s Chief Operating Officer. She is an experienced commercial leader with a private sector background having begun her career with BAE systems delivering high value complex projects with domestic and international clients. She joined NTS from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in 2021 where she was Head of Commercial Projects.

Ciara Middlehurst said: “It’s a real honour for me to become joint CEO of NTS and oversee the important role it plays in delivering specialist transport services in support of NDA and UK Government, and on behalf of customers in the UK and around the world.”

Ben Whittard is NTS’s Chief Development Officer and Managing Director of Solutions and Shipping. He is a former Senior Inspector of the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and has experience of leading, managing and regulating highly complex nuclear programmes globally.

Ben Whittard said: “I’m so pleased to have been appointed joint CEO of NTS at such an exciting time for the organisation. I’m looking forward to working with everyone in NTS, our customers and partners to grow our impact and build on our reputation as the leading provider of transport and logistics solutions.”

Ben and Ciara will assume their joint CEO roles on 1 April 2025