Austal USA under new management

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Monday, following the resignation of the company's previous president, Austal USA's Chief Financial Officer Brian Leathers was named the shipbuilding company's interim president.

Joseph Rella, the previous president resigned Friday and his replacement was named on Monday. Craig Perciavalle was named as Sr. Vice President of Shipyard Operations.

“This transition is a natural step”, said Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy, “We are moving from infrastructure growth to a focus of putting this cutting-edge yard to work meeting the terms of our Littoral Combat Ship and Joint High Speed Vessel contracts and strengthening the overall management of operations.”

Leathers said there is much work to do. HE said the company is under contract with the US Navy to build nine Spearhead-class Joint High Speed Vessels and five Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships under contracts totalling over $5 billion.

“The people, the plant and the processes are in place and Austal USA will be busy building ships for years to come,” Leather said.

“The Board of Directors is currently conducting a leadership search, and a new President of Austal USA will be announced in due course” said Bellamy, “But there is a strong team in place already, and we will take our time picking a candidate who will best serve the Company, our naval customers and the community that supports our Mobile, Ala. facility”.